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3. Post-primary Education In 1949 the total number of Maori pupils from public and Maori schools going on -to post-primary education was 1,645, comprising 796 boys and 849 girls. This shows .an increase on the figures for 1948 (namely, 730 boys, 799 girls —total 1,529) and represents approximately 63 per cent, of the total number of Maori pupils leaving those schools (see Table H 10). The number of Maori district high schools was increased to 8 by the establishment of the Tokomaru Bay Maori District High School. The total enrolment in the postprimary departments at these schools showed an increase from 236 to 254. There was also an increase from 654 to 729 in the enrolment at the 10 denominational colleges. Of the 729 pupils enrolled at denominational colleges, 279 were Government scholarship holders. The total number of Government scholarship holders at both public and private post-primary schools was 309 (see Table H 4a). The whole of the Maori scholarship system is under review, with a view to bringing the system more into harmony with changed post-primary education conditions. If the work of the Maori primary schools is to be more fully effective, it is essential that .a greater proportion of Maori children should proceed to the post-primary stage. The lack of adequate buildings still handicaps the work of the Maori district high schools. It is pleasing to report, however, that conditions improved somewhat during the year. New class-room and laboratory blocks were commenced at Te Kaha, Ruatoki, Rangitahi, and Manutahi District High Schools, and prefabricated class-rooms for the post-primary pupils were erected at Tikitiki and Tokomaru Bay. Additional grants were made available for library books, text-books, science equipment, and for music, so that the district high schools are now more satisfactorily equipped with these materials than formerly. 4. Higher Education Reference has already been made above to the steady increase in the number of .•students entering training colleges under the Maori schools' quota. The problem of teacher-training was under review during the year and the Maori School Inspectors prepared and submitted a report to the Consultative Committee on Teacher Training. During the year nine Maori University scholarships were current, as follows : Four medical, two agricultural science, one home science, one commerce, and one arts. One scholarship holder, after completing six units of the science degree, was admitted to the ;Sydney University, where he is taking the prescribed course for the degree of Bachelor -of Veterinary Science. 5. Buildings During the past year a satisfactory volume of construction work was accomplished in spite of continuing difficulties in obtaining tenders for work in country districts. Fortunately the most pressing needs of class-room accommodation in Maori schools have been met either by new permanent buildings or by a judicious use of prefabricated A total of fourteen prefabricated class-rooms was erected during the year, while the following buildings were also completed : —■ Class-rooms .. .. .. .. 17 Residences .. .. .. .. 6 Milk-rooms . . . . .. . . 4 Dental clinics .. .. .. .. 4 In addition, septic-tank drainage was installed at four schools.

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