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The principal educational development in the past year has been in the training of apprentices. Dominion Apprenticeship Committees have helped to produce orders, which in many cases require apprentices to attend at a school providing technical instruction. Particularly in the motor engineering and plumbing trades, the attendance of apprentices at schools in working-hours has become part of the system of training, and has had the goodwill of both employers and employees. There can be little doubt that in these days of specialization in the workshops, schools can provide something for apprentices which the employer has little time or opportunity to give. The educational authorities have given a great deal of assistance in providing accommodation, equipment, .and staff, and in giving some training to part-time trades instructors. A necessary concomitant of apprentice training is the Trades Certification Board which was set up in 1949, and has now completed a useful year's work. Its function is to lay down suitable syllabuses of instruction in the various trades, and to arrange for the examination and certification of apprentices and tradesmen. It will do this in •co-operation with the representatives of employers and employees, and has already come to satisfactory arrangements for examinations in four trades, namely motor ■engineering, electrical trades, carpentry and joinery, and plumbing. In all matters relating to apprenticeship, officers of the Education Department have worked in co-operation with those of the Department of Labour and Employment; and this has made possible a speedy development of the work in the schools. Ido not forget, however, that it is upon the Boards, Principals, and staffs of schools that the .actual work has fallen, and their resourcefulness and tact have made possible the successful introduction of this latest educational development in New Zealand. Pre-school Education Further increases in the number of Free Kindergarten Associations and of the number •of kindergartens in operation occurred during the year. To meet these increases, additional students were admitted for training as kindergarten teachers. Additional assistance in meeting the cost of pre-school education has been granted by the decision to pay for the cost of sites and buildings for free kindergarten training centres. Handicapped Children In some centres the claims of children suffering from serious physical defects have received special consideration, and in Christchurch and Dunedin day-school classes for cerebral-palsied children were established. The establishment of a similar class in Wellington was also under consideration, but no satisfactory accommodation of a permanent nature was available. This is a matter that is now receiving attention. School Buildings A heavy building programme was carried out during the year, and the following larger works were completed : Marton, Wairakei Koad (Canterbury), and Papatoetoe West Primary Schools, Okato District High School Secondary Department, Southland Girls' High School (additional class-rooms), Victoria University College (lecture-room block), and Otago University (temporary accommodation for dental school). Expenditure for the financial year ended 31st March, 1950, from the Public Works Account amounted to £2,336,512 as compared with £1,650,396 for trie previous financial year.

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