E.— 8

1917 NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS. [In continuation of E.-8, 1916.]

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

No. 1. EXTRACT FROM THE PQETIETH 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 and Senior National Scholarships, junior and senior free places in secondary schools, district high schools, and technical schools, and teachers' certificates. 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 22nd November to the Ist December, 1916, and from the sth to the 19th January, 1917, at sixty-four 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 : — 1915-10. 1916-17. Number who entered ... ... ... ... 10,978 11,858 Number who actually sat for examination ... ... 9,453 10,894 Number of absentees ... ... ... ... 1,525 964 The changes of most importance last year in the circumstances connected with the examinations were :■ — (1.) The suspension for the year of the practice of granting senior free places to approved candidates without special examination on the recommendation of the Principals of the secondary schools attended by them, or, in the case of district-high-school pupils, of Inspectors of Schools. It is hoped that the Departthis year and to grant exemptions from examination to pupils ment will be in a position to revert to the accrediting system satisfactorily completing approved courses.