E.—s

6

Note.—lt will be noticed that the number of centres is greater than the number ojUplaces at which classes were held. This is accounted for by the fact that in the larger towns there are two or more schools providing technical instruction. ;_ - Note.—Prior to 1911 what are now known as "day technical schools" were treated as aggregations of classes, whereas they are now regarded as organized schools. This will explain the apparent decrease in the number of classes in operation in 1911. " Special " classes— i.e., classes conducted by an Education Board or by the governing body of a secondary school—continue to be the most numerous and the most widely distributed. Most of the classes in the smaller places come under this heading. " Associated " classes, or classes conducted by managers representing bodies contributing to the funds of the classes, were held at twenty-seven centres, as against twenty-three in 1910. In only a few cases does a technical classes association conduct classes at more than one centre. " College " classes or classes controlled by a University college have remained practically stationary. Day technical schools, providing courses of instruction occupying not less than twenty hours a week, were in operation during the year in connection with the technical schools at Auckland (317 pupils), Wanganui (90 pupils), Wellington (268 pupils), Napier (83 pupils), Nelson (10 pupils), Westport (14 pupils), Christchurch (349 pupils), and Dunedin (210 pupils). These schools, which provide fairly full courses in science and technology, domestic economy, agriculture, and commercial instruction, continue to be well attended, and appear to attract a number of young people who probably would not for one reason or another proceed in the absence of such schools to secondary schools. The number of pupils on the rolls of day technical schools was 1,341, of whom 598 were males. Free places were held by 1,260 pupils, including 552 males.

The following table gives the school age and sex of free pupils at day technical schools : —

The number of pupils holding Junior Free Places tenable for two years was 1,129, the number holding Senior Free Places tenable for three years being 131. Fifty-one per cent, of the pupils who entered on Junior Free Places in 1910 continued to attend during 1911, while about 30 per cent, of the pupils who completed the second year of their Junior Free Places at the end of 1910 qualified for and were awarded Senior Free Places in 1911. The courses of instruction taken up by students at day technical schools were as follows : — Males. Females. Totals. Industrial 362 0 362 Commercial 193 499 692 0 237 237 Agricultural .. .. . - .... 41 0 41 Art • 2 7 9 Totals ..598 743 1,341 Over 50 per cent, of the pupils on the roll of day technical schools attended commercial courses, industrial courses being taken by 27 per cent, and domestic courses by 17 per cent, of the pupils. Courses of agricultural instruction were provided at two of the schools, and were attended by forty-one pupils, or about 9 per cent, of the total roll.

School Age. Males. 1910. Females. _ _ _ i l_ Total. Males. 1911. Females. Total. . ., i First year .. umorfree P a P lls i Second year First year .. ienior free pupils - Second year Third year - 355 112 26 12 2 381 175 64 15 4 736 287 90 27 6 328 176 36 9 3 I j I j | j 422 203 70 12 1 750 379 106 21 4 Totals .. 507 507 639 639 I 1,146 1,146 552 552 708 708 1,260