35

E.—l

The number of candidates for examinations conducted by the University of New Zealand shows a decrease when compared with the previous year's figures. For the Matriculation Examination there were 4,586 candidates, as against 5,524 candidates in the previous year. Of the candidates who sat last year for the Matriculation Examination 2,217 passed. There were 6,660 entries for the various degree examinations, compared with 6,204 in 1928. GENERAL. School Music. During the year there has been a very real, if somewhat slow, progress towards better conditions in music in New Zealand schools. It is anticipated, however, that progress in this direction will be accelerated when the students at present receiving musical instruction in the training colleges under the Lecturers in music pass into our schools as teachers. In general, the quality of actual singing performance is improving in the schools, but, with a few exceptions, there is practically no attempt on the part of head teachers to promote proper systematic and progressive instruction in music. This is usually ascribed to the lack of skilled teachers on the staff, a position which should improve when the students at present receiving instruction in music at the training colleges become available. The schools still continue to avail themselves of the special arrangements made by the Department for the supply of gramophones, pianos, and records. During the year there were supplied to schools under this scheme 350 gramophones, 104 pianos, and many hundreds of records. A certain amount of attention is being paid to the subject of eurhythmies in connection with school music. At Auckland Training College a large percentage of women students was in 1929 taking eurhythmies under a qualified teacher, but nothing was being done definitely at the other training colleges. During the first half of the year personal visits were made by the Supervisor of Musical Education to many schools. In many of the districts visited teachers met for demonstrations and addresses, and general interest in music was aroused whenever possible by means of lectures to various societies and by organ recitals. In the latter half of the year the Supervisor was abroad first as a delegate at the Anglo-American Music Conference in Lausanne and later in England observing matters of musical interest. Annual Examinations. The annual examinations conducted by the Department are as follows : (1) An examination to determine the grant of Junior Scholarships and junior free places, held in November ; (2) a main series consisting of Public Service Entrance, Senior National Scholarship, and Intermediate Examinations ; (3) an August series for teachers' certificates of Classes D and C and Handicraft, and incidentally to some extent of Class B ; (4) Technological examinations, and examinations for elementary kindergarten certificates. The examinations were held at seventy-five centres in 1929. The total number of entries for all examinations was 8,486, of which number 8,116 candidates actually presented themselves for examination. 5,546 candidates were exempted from the necessity of passing the Intermediate Examination, due to the accrediting principle by which candidates for senior free places may be exempted from an external examination. The number of candidates actually presenting themselves for the various examinations during the last three years is shown below : —

— ! 1927. I 1928. 1929. ! Junior National Scholarships and junior free places .. .. .. 2,791 1,456 1,409 Public Service Entrance, Senior National Scholarships, and Intermediate 4,386 4,570 4,520 Teachers D and C .. . . .. .. .. .. 2,384 2,086 1,994 Kindergarten Certificate Examination .. .. . . .. 10 14 6 London University Examinations .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 3 Handicraft Teachers' Certificate .. .. . . .. • ■ 13 17 21 Technological examinations .. .. .. .. . ■ ■ ■ 51 161 Naval Cadetships .. .. .. .. .. • • • • 2 2 Totals .. .. .. .. .. .. 9,585 8,197 8,116