5

E.—6

or the recommendation of the Principal or Director of the school or classes attended based on the school records and examination results, or the recommendation of an Inspector of secondary schools, or, in the case of district high schools, of the senior Inspector of the district, or in part on such a recommendation and in part on the results of a special examination. The provision for qualification for senior free places on the recommendation of the Principals of secondary schools is becoming increasingly applicable, the number receiving senior free places in this manner in 1919 being 1,793 ; the number represents about two thirds of the total number of senior free places awarded. In addition two pupils were granted partial exemption from examination, being required to submit to a test in English or arithmetic only. The following are some of the figures for 1918 and 1919 in regard to free places in secondary schools : — 1918. 1919. Number of secondary schools giving free, tuition 32 32 Roll number (if these schools .. .. .. 7,871 8,536 Number of free-place holders at end of year .. 6,966 7,657 Average number of free-place holders during year .. 7,177 8,006 Free-place liolders as a percentage of roll number . . 91 per cent. 94 per cent. Total annual payment by Government for free places £85,422 £111,062 In order to arrive at the total number of pupils in New Zealand receiving free secondary instruction, it will be necessary, however, to include also 104 holders of scholarships or exhibitions carrying free instruction not otherwise enumerated, which are granted by the secondary schools included above or by endowed secondary schools not coming under the conditions for free places, 2,015 free-place holders at district high schools, 90 Maori pupils receiving free education in Maori secondary schools, and 2,754 holders of free places in technical high schools. Consequently, there were approximately 12,620 pupils receiving free secondary education in the Dominion, exclusive of those holders of free places in technical schools (mostly evening students), who, while not taking full-day courses, were nevertheless receiving free educaton of secondary grade. The following table gives a summary of the various secondary free places in 1918 and 1919 for which payment was made by the Government: — Feee Places in December, 1918 and 1919. (i.) Secondary schools — , 1918. , r- 1919. > Boys. (iirls. Total. Boys. Girls. . Total. (a.) Junior free pupils .. 2,r>03 2,405 4,908 2,793 2.573 5,366 (b.) Senior free pupils .. 1,081 977 2,058 1,187 1,104 2,291 Totals .. .. 3,584 3,382 6,966 3,980 3,677 7,657 (ii.) District high schools— (a.) Junior free pupils .. 876 977 1,853 849 859 1,708 (6.) Senior free pupils .. 103 167 270 116 191 307 Totals .. .. 979 1,144 2,123 965 1,050 2,015 (iii.) Maori secondary schools .. 45 58 103 42 48 90 (iv.) Technical high schools . 1,162 1,342 2,504 1,351 L,403 2,754 Grand totals .. 5,770 5,920 .11,696 6,338 6,178 12,516 Scholarships held at Secondary Schools and District High Schools. (Sec also Tables K4 and L5.) National Scholarships. Junior and Senior National Scholarships, in the proportion of nine to five, are awarded by the Government on the results of annual examinations, the junior examination being of a standard somewhat higher than that of the certificate of proficiency, and the senior examination being of a standard comparable with the standard of the Public Service Entrance Examination. Scholarships are awarded to all candidates reaching a certain standard, the standard of award being determined so as approximately to provide one scholarship for every 500 children in attendance at all public schools. In the case of pupils from sole-teacher schools— i.e., schools with an average attendance of under thirty-six —the standard of award is made 10 per cent, lower than the general standard. The standard of qualification fixed Eor the 1919 examinations was 64 per cent, for junior scholarships (general standard) and G2 per cent, for senior scholarships.