13

E.—l

Pupils leaving Primary Schools.

In 1929, 23,022 pupils (12,059 boys and 10,963 girls) left public primary schools ; of these 17,852, or 78 per cent., had passed Standard VI, and 5,170, or 22 per cent., had not passed that standard. Amongst the 5,170 children who left without passing Standard VI were 700 children who had not attained the age of fourteen years. It is thought, however, that the greater portion of these will be children who, though not fourteen years of age when the schools closed in December, 1929, attained that age before the 1930 school year commenced. A number left the Dominion, and others transferred either to private schools or to lower departments of secondary schools. The few who are not thus accounted for will doubtless have been dealt with by the Education Boards for irregular attendance. It is interesting to note that in 1929 the diminution of primary-school roll numbers experienced during the past two years apparently commenced to effect the numbers of children leaving school, for, as stated above, 23,022 children definitely left primary school in 1929, whereas in the previous year the number was 23,742. This downward movement will probably continue so long as the primary-school roll continues to fall, and its possible effect on the problem of unemployment amongst young people, on the enrolment at post-primary schools, and on the national expenditure on post-primary education appears to provide an interesting field for speculation and inquiry. Destination of Pupils leaving Primary Schools. The Department again obtained from public schools, through the Education Boards, returns as to the destination of pupils leaving school. A summary of the returns showing the number of pupils who left last year is given in the following