E.—B,

1914, NEW ZE A L AND.

EDUCATION: ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS. [In continuation of E.-8, 1913.]

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

No. 1. EXTRACT FROM THE THIRTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. Annual Examinations. The annual examinations were conducted by the Education Department as usual for the various purposes of Junior National Scholarships, Junior and Senior Free Places in secondary schools, district high schools, and technical schools, and teachers' certificates. On behalf of the various Education Boards examinations were conducted for Junior and Senior Board Scholarships and for the First Examination of Pupil-teachers. Also, by arrangement with the Public Service Commissioner, examinations were held for admission to and promotion in the Public Service. The examinations were held from the 19th to the 26th November, and on the 27th and 28th November, 1913, and from the sth to the 20th January, 1914, at fifty-eight centres. The following table shows collectively, in comparison with the preceding year, the number who entered for the various examinations above enumerated, the number present, and the number of absentees :— Number who entered, 1913-14 .. .. .. .. ..9,613 1912-13 .. .. .. .. .. 9,006 Number actually present at examination, 1913-14 .. .. .. 8,305 1912-13 8,031 Number who did not present themselves, 1913-14 .. .. • • 1,308 1912-13 975 It will be noted from the above figures that the number of absentees in the last examination was very much in excess of that for the examination of 1912-13. In fact, 14 per cent, of the candidates who entered did not present themselves for the examination. This high proportion of absentees is attributable to the following causes : — (1.) In the case of Senior Free Place candidates, to the application of a principle by which awards of Senior Free Places are made with the concurrence of the Inspector-General of Schools on the recommendation of the principal of the secondary school attended, or, for district high, schools, of an Inspector of Schools. In such cases the candidate has not been required to attend the examination for which he originally entered.

I—E. 8.