E.—l.

Table O6.—Percentages of Boys leaving Post-primary Schools in 1928-31 who proceeded to the University or to Employment in the Three Main Occupational Groups.

A study of the six preceding tables reveals the following points : — (1) A very considerable decrease in the number of pupils leaving primary schools. The number in Form II was rather greater than in the previous year and the decrease is clearly due to a falling-ofi in the number of proficiency passes. As a consequence of this, more pupils are staying at school to complete. (2) A decrease in the number leaving secondary schools, but an increase in the number leaving all other post-primary schools. This latter is somewhat surprising in view of the prevailing depression. (3) The percentage of pupils leaving primary schools who proceed to postprimary schools has for some time been nearly constant at just over 50 per cent. (4) The percentage of pupils leaving secondary schools for the University has increased to 9 per cent., due partly to the difficulty of securing employment and partly, in times of keen competition, to the necessity of securing the best possible qualifications. (5) Most schools continue to show decreases in the number of pupils proceeding to commercial occupations and to trades, while again there is an increase in the number taking up agricultural and pastoral occupations. (6) The destination of very few pupils is given as " Teaching or Training College," as no probationers were appointed at the beginning of 1932. Many of those under the heading " University " will, however, undoubtedly be taking up teaching later on. 16. VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE AND PLACEMENT. The work of attempting to give some guidance to boys and girls leaving the post-primary schools and desiring to take up employment has been carried on indefatigably by the special assistants approved in several of the la'rgest schools. In at least one centre the University staff has given very valuable assistance in this connection, while the officers of the Y.M.C.A. have co-operated to the fullest extent possible. Many of the avenues for employment have become _ closed during this period of financial depression, and consequently the work of vocational guidance has been to some extent in abeyance while the activities of those who had this responsibility have been directed more towards vocational placement —that is, the finding of situations for the boys and girls who have left school. At the beginning of the year the Government decided to relax the regulations governing the award of senior free places in order that boys and girls who were reasonably well qualified educationally might while they were waiting for employment occupy themselves profitably in continuing their courses in the postprimarv schools. Nearly five hundred young people took advantage of this concession at the end of this year. lam glad to say that in all the more important centres organizations have sprung up with the object of assisting teachers and parents to find some sort of suitable occupation for the boys and girls leaving school, [n. a large number of instances lads have been placed on farms. In a great many cases, however, it was impossible to find employment for the young people, and local voluntary organizations have endeavoured to provide useful part-time education in occupation centres which in at least one district are located in buildings lent by the Education Board. 4—E. 1.

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University. ghop° and*ffwiS. Farmtag ' TradeS and In(iMtrie8 ' Class of School. 1928.1929.1930. 1931. 1928.1929,'l930. 1931. 1928.1929.1930. 1931. 1928.1929.1930.1931. I ; Secondary .. .. .. 5 3 7 9 44 50 35 28 18 19 25 28 12 12 i 12 11 Combined .. .. 35 33 14 Technical 1 * 1 1 35 38 32 22 18 18 22 27 23 25 18 15 District high .. .. .. 1 1 * 2 33 34 27 16 34 33 43 46 13 17 11 11 All schools .. .. .. 3 2 4 4 39 43 33 24 21 21 27 31 16 17 14 13 * No significant percentage.