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1908. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS. [In continuation of E.-1a, 1907.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Inspectoe-Geneeal of Schools to the Hon. the Ministee of Education. Sic, — • Education Department, Wellington, Ist August, 1908. I have the honour to present the following report of the annual examinations conducted by the Department for the various purposes of Teachers' Certificates, Junior National Scholarships, Junior Free Places in secondary schools, district high schools, and technical schools, Senior Free Places in secondary schools and district high schools, and for admission to or promotion in the Civil Service. The examinations were held between the 10th and the 21st days of December, 1907, and between the 6th and the 18th days of January, 1908, at the thirteen towns, which are the seats of Education Boards, and also at Alexandra, Aratapu, Arrowtown, Ashburton, Balclutha, Dannevirke, Gisborne, Gore, Hamilton, Hastings, Hawera, Lawrence, Levin, Masterton, Naseby, Oamaru, Ohaeawai, Pahiatua, Palmerston North, Paparoa, Eangiora, Eeefton, Eiverton, Stratford, Tauranga, Thames, Wairoa, Westport, Whangarei. The total number of candidates that entered was 5,544, of whom 481 were absent from examination. The numbers that actually sat for the several examinations were as follows : For the Junior National Scholarship and Junior Free Place Examination, 1,475; for the Civil Service Junior Examination, 2,173 ; for the Civil Service Senior Examination, 231 ; for Certificate Examinations, 1,184. It is to be noted, however, that common to both the Junior and Senior Civil Service Examinations there were 25 candidates who sat for both, and whose names are accordingly reckoned twice in the totals given. Similarly, two of the candidates for Teachers' Certificateswere also candidates for the Civil Service Senior. The Junior National Scholarship Examination was used by all of the Education Boards except three for awarding their junior scholarships, and by Victoria College for awarding the Junior Queen's Scholarships. The Civil Service Junior Examination was used as the examination for senior free places in secondary schools and district high schools, and also as the First Examination of pupil-teachers. It has also been adopted by nearly all the Education Boards as the test for their senior scholarships. The following table shows in a succinct form the number of candidates for the last three years : — 1905-6. 1906-7. 1907-8. Junior National Scholarship and Junior Free Place 790 1,458 1,475 Civil Service Junior, Senior Free Place, First Pupilteachers... ... ... ... ... 1,305 2,123 2,173 Teachers D and C ... ... ... ... 749 1,051 1,184 Civil Service Senior ... ... ... ... 141 183 231 2,985 4,815 5,063 From a comparison of the figures in the above table, it will be seen that the recent examinations have witnessed a remarkable increase in the number of candidates under the various headings. This increase in the candidature, so far as the December examinations are concerned, is evidently due to the greater opportunities now afforded for free secondary education ; in the teachers'

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