E.—l.

20. INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS AND DEPARTMENTS. The number of intermediate schools and departments remained the same as in the previous year. At the end of the year there were 4,224 pupils on the rolls of these schools and departments, as against 4,369 in the previous year. The reports of the Inspectors of schools indicate that these schools are continuing to do fine work, and where they have been established there is no indication that either parents or pupils would like to revert to the old order where these pupils were the two top classes of an ordinary primary school. The duration of the intermediate course is normally two years, but where a parent certifies that his child is not going later to a post-primary school that child may attend the intermediate school for a third year. 2i. POST-PRIMARY EDUCATION. There were four more institutions providing post-primary education this year in comparison with the number in the previous year. Three district high school departments were established in the Auckland Education District, and one private school was added to the list of registered private secondary schools. During the year building operations were in hand for a new high school at South Dunedin, which would be ready for opening early in 1936. The secondary department of the Correspondence School continued to function successfully and the roll has shown a further increase. The roll numbers of full-time pupils attending the various classes of schools at Ist July were as follows :— 1934. 1935. Secondary .. .. 14,718 14,911 Combined 2,144 2,176 Technical 8,911 9,049 Secondary departments of district high, schools .. .. 5,011 5,331 Endowed schools and registered private secondary schools 4,339 4,636 Correspondence School .. . ■ • • • • 561 35,570 36,664 In addition, a small number of pupils were permitted to stay at intermediate schools for a year longer than the normal course of two years and could be regarded as receiving post-primary education. There has been a steady increase in the number of pupils taking advantage of the facilities afforded for post-primary education, and at present these pupils form a far larger percentage of the total rolls of our educational institutions than was the case a few years ago. 22. EVENING TECHNICAL CLASSES AND PART-TIME DAY CLASSES. During 1935 evening technical and part-time day classes were conducted at thirty-eight centres, compared with thirty-nine centres in 1934. As at Ist July these classes provided instruction for 10,833 students, as against 9,597 students m 1934. Of the 10,833 students, 7,234 were males and 3,599 females ; 4,179 of the males and 2,146 of the females held free places, a total of 6,325, compared with 5,616 in 1934. , The increase recorded this year in the number of pupils attending the above classes is the largest for some time and reflects the state of employment. The demands of industry and business have been met by pupils attending full-time day courses probably in the early stages of their post-primary education, with a consequent enrolment in the evening classes to complete their training. The increase comes mainly from those engaged in clerical pursuits and in various trades and industries, but there has also been a large increase in the number engaged as engineers or mechanics.

4—E, 1.

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