E.—B

2

schools attended by them, or, in the case of district-high-school pupils, of Inspectors of Schools, was continued in 1919. The numbers of candidates who actually presented themselves in the exami-nation-room are given below. FW the sake of comparison the figures for the previous three years are also given. 1916-17. 1917-18. 1918-19. 1919-20. Junior National Scholarships and junior free places .. 4,403 3,122 1,917 2.170 Public Service Entrance, Senior National Scholarships, and Intermediate .. .',' .. .'. .. 3,839 3,315 2,422 3,063 Teachers 1) and C .. .. .. .. .. 1,941 2,102 1,912 2,234 Public Service Senior .. .. .. . . 653 226 78 50 Typists' Examination .. .. .. .. . . 50 60 46 Kindergarten Certificate Examination . . .. .. 5 4 5 9 Special Public Service Entrance Examination in June .. . . .. 133 189 London University Examinations .. .... I I 2 4 Other examinations . . . . .'. . . .. .. . . .. 20 10,894 8,830 6,515 7,739 The increase in the number of candidates sitting for examination in. 1919-20 is due partly to the fact that the influenza epidemic of 1918 prevented a number of intending candidates from then presenting themselves. 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 number 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 64 per cent, for juniors, and 62 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 examination conducted by the Education Department for the Public Service Commissioner to test typists' claims to promotion has been discontinued. The employment of Inspectors of Schools as examiners and as examination supervisors has been largely reduced, as the addition, of this examination work to their ordinary duties was considered to impose too heavy a burden upon them. The cost of conducting the examinations was as follows :— Total expenses, including cost of additional clerical services temporarily £ employed, but omitting other salaries .. .. .. .. 7,020 Less amounts received or to be received — € Fees [laid by candidates for teachers' certificates and others .. 2.564 Contribution by Public Service Commissioner for expense of conducting Public Service Examinations, the fees for which, amounting to £1,326, were credited to him — Public Service Entrance, June 1919 .. .. 267 Public Service Entrance, November, 1919 .. 1.045 Public Service Senior, January, 1920 . . .. 69 3,945 Net expenditure .. .. .. .. £3,075

No. 2. The Director ok Education to the Hon. the Minister of Education. Sir,— Education Department, Wellington, 30th July, 1920. I have the honour to present the following report of the annual examinations conducted by the Department for the various purposes of Junior and Senior National 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. These examinations fall into four main groups :— (i.) A special Public Service Entrance Examination held in June ; (ii.) An examination to determine the grant of Junior Scholarships and junior free places, held in November or December ; (iii.) A main series for Public Service Entrance, Senior National Scholarship, and senior free place purposes, held in November ; and (iv.) A January series (a) for teachers' certificates of Classes D and C, and incidentally to some extent of Class B, and (6) for Public Service Senior qualifications.