E.—s

1. EXTRACT FROM THE FORTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. General. Number of Schools. The number of technical high schools open during 1925 was fifteen, in addition to which there were eight organized technical or art schools offering day courses. Technical classes were also conducted in twenty-two manual-training or other centres, the total number of centres being forty-five. Attendance. The total number of students receiving instruction in all technical classes was 18,098, as compared with 19,612 in 1924. The attendance at technical high schools decreased from 5,369 in 1924 to 5,132 in 1925, a decrease of 237, due largely to the epidemic at the beginning of the year. Of the total number of 18,098 students, 4,891 held free places at technical high schools, 5,377 at other technical classes, 182 were attending continuation and technical classes held under the regulations for compulsory classes, and 87 were attending under the regulations relating to the free instruction of discharged soldiers. If is to be noted that the above figures are exclusive of students attending classes at University colleges previously recognized under the Technical Regulations but now included under " higher education." Staffing. At the end of 1925 there were 274 full-time assistant teachers on the staffs of technical schools, besides a large number of part-time teachers. The teachers employed full time were classified as follows, Class VII being the highest:—

Although the number of technical-school teachers remains the same as for last year, the number of Division I men (graduates) has increased from eighty-seven to ninety-four, while the number of women in the higher grades of Division II has also increased considerably.

2

Division I. Division II. Class. : i Totals. Men. Women. Men. I Women. I | VII ... .. .. .. 1 .. 5 6 VI ...... 4 3 5 10 22 Vi ...... 18 6 16 20 60 IV .. .. .. 32 11 11 18 72 III ...... 22 9 18 5 54 II .... 11 9 9 7 36 I ...... 7 6 4 7 24 Totals for 1925 .. 94 45 63 72 274 Totals for 1924 .. 87 45 68 74 274