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the office between trips and in school holidays they have many duties thrust upon them, and have as well to keep up to date in their subjects and maintain close contact with many schools and teachers. The service is fortunate in having a group of conscientious and alert Inspectors, and I am personally deeply grateful to them for their forbearance and co-operation. Schools and School Rolls No new post-primary schools were established during 1948, and only one new secondary department (Mangakino). There was one addition to the list of registered post-primary schools (Hato Paora). The following table gives the numbers enrolled on Ist March for the past five years in the various types of schools. The numbers of schools in each year are shown in brackets : Rolls of Post-primary Schools, Ist March, 1944. 1945. 1946. 1947. 1948. Secondary schools .. 18,573 (39) 20,042 (39) 20,225(40) 20,242(40) 19,972 (40) Technical schools.. .. 12,530(21) 14,295 (23) 14,943 (25) 15,862(28) 15,096 (28) Combined schools .. 3,639 (7) 3,843 (7) 3,839 (7) 3,869 (7) 3,828 (7) Secondary departments of district high schools .. 7,356 (101) 8,708(104) 8,375 (103) 8,329 (107) 8,642 (108) Registered private postprimary schools (including two endowed schools) .. 7,978 (67) 9,146 (75) 9,623 (80) 10,163 (82) 9,977 (83) Totals .. 50,076 56,034 ' 57,035 58,465 57,515 As stated earlier, the distinctions between secondary and technical schools are now often not of sufficient importance to make this classification significant. It differentiates rather between the methods of establishment than between curricula. Some other method of classification will no doubt later prove desirable and feasible. Secondary Departments of District High Schools One new department, at Mangakino, was opened in 1948, bringing the total number to 108. Of these, 5 had rolls in excess of 200, and 11 others in excess of 150. These departments are now visited annually by the Inspectors of Post-primary Schools ; in addition, very many of them were specially visited in the first month in order to assist the teachers with the organization of their work for the year. Discussions were also held on the teaching of the main subjects of the curriculum. The teachers in many secondary departments have helped to solve the problems caused by the introduction of the new prescriptions by—(i) Simplifying the courses offered to their pupils. (ii) Encouraging pupils who have passed the School Certificate Examination to take advantage of Secondary School Bursaries. The extra equipment purchased from the special grants for social studies, music, libraries, and physical education is being well used and is proving of great value. Although staffing has on the whole been more stable, many schools are experiencing difficulty in obtaining qualified permanent teachers. With the coming into force of the Country Service Regulation on Ist*February, 1949, the position should improve considerably. Curriculum and Standards There has been no change in the curriculum during 1948. All pupils take the common core of studies, and a group of optional subjects, so that it is possible for any pupil to sit the School Certificate Examination if he remains at school for not less than three years.

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