E.—B

2

(2.) In the case of the Teachers' Examinations, to a somewhat similar provision embodied in the Training College Regulations. (3.) To the usual causes, mainly illness and lack of preparation, the latter being particularly evident in the case of the Public Service Senior candidates, many of whom, being led to enter by various considerations not previously applicable, found themselves finally unprepared to meet the examiner. The number of candidates who actually presented themselves in the examina-tion-room is given below. For the sake of comparison the figures for the previous three years are also given : — Junior National and Education Board Scholarships and mo ~ n - 19H-12. 1912-13. 1913-14. Junior Free Places .. .. .. .. 2,383 2,564 2,934 3,154 Intermediate (Education Board Senior Scholarships, Senior Free Places, First Pupil-teachers) and Public Service Entrance .. .. .. .. .. 2,375 2,563 2,770 2,756 Teachers D and C .. .. .. .. .-. 1,534 1,626 1,753 1,524 Public Service Senior .. .. .. .. 390 518 574 871 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 6,682 7,271 8,031 8,305 The Department's examination for Junior National Scholarships is now used by all the Education Boards of the Dominion for the award of their Junior Scholarships, superseding thus without exception any examination locally conducted in earlier years for this purpose. For the award of their Senior Scholarships Education Boards use the Intermediate Examination as arranged for this purpose, the papers set being the same as those provided for the Public Service Entrance Examination and the terms in each case being determined by the regulations of the several Boards offering Senior Scholarships for competition. Other purposes for which the Intermediate Examination is used with certain modifications to suit a purely qualifying or non-competitive candidature are —(1) The award by examination of Senior Free Places in secondary schools and district high schools ; (2) as an examination for pupil-teachers of the second or third year, and for appointment to pupil-teacher-ships of the second year or to probationerships under the provisions of the Education Amendment Act, 1908 ; and (3) general purposes of educational certificates of this standing. The cost of conducting the Department's examinations was as follows : — Total expenses, including cost of additional clerical services tempo- £ c. d. rarily employed .. .. .. .. .. 6,578 11 1 Less recoveries— Fees paid by candidates for teachers' certificates £ g. d. and others .. .. .. .. 1,843 4 9 Paid by Public Service Commissioner for expense of conducting Public Service Examinations, for which in general no fees are now payable— Public Service Entrance .. .. 751 010 Public Service Senior .. .. 963 19 8 3,558 5 3 £3,020 5 10 No. 2. The Inspector-General of Schools to the Hon. the Minister of Education. Sir, — Education Department, Wellington, 23rd July, 1914. I have the honour to present the' following report of the annual examinations conducted by the Department for the various purposes of Junior National and Junior and Senior Education Board Scholarships, of Junior and Senior Free Places in secondary schools, district high schools, and technical schools, and for teachers' certificates ; also of the examinations associated therewith and conducted by arrangement with the Public Service Commissioner for admission to and promotion in the Public Service.