E.—l.

There were at the end of the year 20,228 children in attendance at Government schools providing secondary education, and of these 96 per cent, were holders of free places. Staffs and Salaries. The number of full-time teachers on the staffs of the thirty-six secondary schools at the end of 1925 was 512, compared with 493 in 1924. There were 22 male and 14 female Principals and 257 male and 219 female assistants. The average rates of salary at the end of the year were as follows, the figures for 1923 being also shown :— 1923. 1925. Principals— £ £ Men .. .. .. .. .. .. ..713 749 Women.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 546 561 Both sexes .. .. .. .. .. .. 651 676 Assistants— Men .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 370 384 Women.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 271 283 Both sexes .. .. .. .. .. .. 324 338 All teachers— Men .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 399 413 Women.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 287 300 Both sexes .. .. .. .. .. .. 348 362 In addition, male Principals for whom a residence was not provided received house allowance of £60 per annum. TECHNICAL EDUCATION. General. Number of Schools. The number of technical high schools open during 1925 was fifteen, in addition to which there were eight organized technical or art schools offering day courses. Technical classes were also conducted in twenty-two manual-training or other centres, the total number of centres being forty-five. Attendance. The total number of students receiving instruction in all technical classes was 18,098, as compared with 19,612 in 1924. The attendance at technical high schools decreased from 5,369 in 1924 to 5,132 in 1925, a decrease of 237, due largely to the epidemic at the beginning of the year. Of the total number of 18,098 students, 4,891 held free places at technical high schools, 5,377 at other technical classes, 182 were attending continuation and technical classes held under the regulations for compulsory classes, and 87 were attending under the regulations relating to the free instruction of discharged soldiers. It is to be noted that the above figures are exclusive of students attending classes at University colleges previously recognized under the Technical Regulations but now included under " higher education." Staffing. At the end of 1925 there were 274 full-time assistant teachers on the staffs of technical schools, besides a large number of part-time teachers. The teachers employed full time were classified as follows, Class YII being the highest:—

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I Division I. Division II. Class. j Totals. Men. ! Women. Men. Women. ! VII .. .. .. .. 1 .. 5 6 VI ...... 4 3 5 10 22 V ...... 18 6 16 20 60 IV .. .. .. 32 11 11 18 72 III ...... 22 9 18 5 54 II .... 11 9 9 7 36 I ...... 7 6 4 7 24 Totals for 1925 .. 94 45 63 72 274 Totals for 1924 .. 87 45 68 74 274