E.--8

2

of unprepared candidates, and the consequent heavy burden of work upon the examiners and unnecessary expense to the country. Head teachers were permitted to present, in general, not more than 10 per cent, of their Sixth Standard pupils for the examination, and secondary-school Principals were asked to take similar steps to ensure the putting-forward of only the best candidates. The last examination was not altogether a fair test owing to the influenza epidemic ; in spite of this, however, the percentage of failures was reduced from 57 in the previous year to 49-5 at this examination. The special admission of candidates who were too old to qualify for junior free places in the Certificate of Proficiency Examination was again necessary. 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, was continued in 1918. The numbers of candidates who actually presented themselves in the examina-tion-room are given below. For the sake of comparison the figures for the previous three years are also given. 1915-16. 1916-17. 1917-18. 1918-19. Junior National Scholarships and junior free places .. 3,973 4,403 3,122 1,917 Public Service, Entrance, Senior National Scholarships, and Intermediate .. .. .. .. ..3,022 3,839 3,315 2,422 Teachers D and C , .. .. .. .. ;. 1,720 1,941 2,102 1,912 Public Service Senior .. .. .. ' .. 675 653 226 78 Typists' Examination . . . . . . . . . . 51 50 60 46 Kindergarten Certificate Examination .. .. . . 8 5 4 5 Special Public Service Entrance Examination in June . . .. .. .. 133 London University Examinations .. .. .. 2 1 1 2 9,453 1-0,894 8,830 6,515 The large decrease in number of candidates sitting for examinations is accounted for, for the most part, by the epidemic and the consequent postponement of the examinations, the number who did not present themselves for examination after entering being abnormally large. Candidates for Senior' National Scholarships again had the option of being examined under a programme (scheme A) corresponding to the usual secondaryschool course, or under an alternative one (scheme B) intended to suit candidates who have been taking courses with an agricultural or domestic bias. The regulations were amended in September, 1916. to help scheme B candidates by doubling the maximum marks for laboratory work or outdoor work in field and garden. The numbers of candidates examined under the scheme A programme so far remains much the same from year to year. The standards of qualification for the year, fixed in accordance with the provisions of the Act, were 62-|~ per cent, for juniors and 60| per cent, for seniors. In the case of junior-scholarship candidates from one-teacher schools the standard of qualification was fixed at its lowest limit allowable by regulation—viz., 10 per cent, below the ordinary standard. The value of the services rendered by Inspectors of Schools in connection with the examination of papers and supervision of the annual examinations is estimated at about £500. This is a considerable decrease compared with the value of work done at tin , , previous examinations (£1,400), but it was considered advisable to lighten considerably the burden of examination-work previously carried by Inspectors. The cost of conducting the examinations was as follows :— Total expenses, including cost of additional clerical services temporarily £ employed, but omitting other salaries .. .. .. .. 5,519 Less recoveries— £ Fees paid by candidates for teachers' certificates and others . . 2,200 Paid by Public' Service Commissioner for expense of conducting Public Service Examinations, the fees lor which, amounting to £1,193, were credited to himPublic Service Entrance, June 1918 . . . . 261 Public Service Entrance, January, 1919 .. .. 1,125 Public Service Senior and Typists' Examinations . . 105 3,69 1 Net expenditure .. .. .. .. £1,828