43

E.—l

A comparison of these figures shows that there is a considerable diminution in the roll numbers at district high schools at the end of the year. The falling-off is found to be more noticeable in the case of boys than of girls, and is regarded as being due to the fact that a large number of the former leave school early kj with a view to entering upon some vocation. In addition to those in secondary schools and in the secondary departments of district high schools there should properly be included in the number of pupils under secondary instruction in the Dominion (a) the pupils attending day technical schools, which in this regard may be called technical high schools ; and (b) the pupils in various institutions for the secondary education of Maori boys and girls. The numbers on the rolls of the day technical schools were :— 1911. 1912. Boys ... ... ... ... ... 598 684 Girls .. ... ... ... ... 743 842 Total ... ... ... 1,341 1,526 The number on the rolls of the secondary schools for Maoris were— 1911. 1912. Boys ... ... ... ... ... 177 163 Girls ... ... ... ... .. 210 206 Total ... ... ... 387 369 To obtain as close an estimate as possible of the total number receiving secondary education in schools, it will be necessary to include pupils attending all the above classes — i.e., secondary schools proper, secondary departments of district high schools, Maori secondary schools, and day technical schools. Also private secondary schools subject to inspection must be taken into consideration. Of private secondary schools not so subject the Department has no information. We then arrive at the following total of all secondary-school pupils in New Zealand known to the Department:— Average Weekly Roll. 1911. 1912. Secondary schools ... ... ... ... 5,209* 5,542* District high schools ... ... ... ... 2,090 2,048 Day technical schools ... ... ... 1,341+ 1,526+ Maori secondary schools ... ... ... 387* 369* Private secondary schools ... ... ... 831] 883} Total ... ... ... 9,858 10,£68 * Roll at end of year. t Actual number on roll during year. t Represents only private secondary sohools inspected by the Department. In spite of slight decreases in the numbers at district high schools and Maori secondary schools, there has been a satisfactory increase in the total number receiving secondary education. Based on the estimated population of New Zealand as at the 31st December last, the proportion of persons receiving some form of day secondary education in that year was 94 per 10,000 of population. Free Secondary Education. (See also E.-6, Table K5.) Under the regulations free places are divided into two classes—junior and senior—both being tenable at secondary schools and district high schools. Boys and girls who qualify for Junior Education Board Scholarships, whether they obtain scholarships or not, are entitled to Junior Free Places, and those who pass the special examinations for free places are also participants in the privilege.