E.—l.

The following table is of interest in connection with this matter : —

Table P. —Percentages of Pupils leaving Primary, Junior High, and Post-primary Schools in 1928-31 who are known to have proceeded to Further Full-time Education of a Higher Grade or to some Definite Occupation (Home excluded).

The difference between the figures given and 100 per cent, is not to be taken as a measure of unemployment, as in a large number of cases, particularly boys, the destination was not known, and in the case of the girls a still larger number were engaged in home pursuits. 17. LENGTH OF POST-PRIMARY COURSE. The returns compiled in 1931 by teachers show also the duration of the postprimary course taken by pupils who have now left school. Summarized, the position is as follows : —

Table Q1.

To make an accurate determination of the average length of school life of pupils in the various post-primary schools would involve a record being kept of the actual length of school life of each individual pupil. This has not hitherto been considered necessary. A rough approximation may, however, be obtained to the average length of school life of those pupils who left, in 1931 by dividing the total school life of all pupils leaving during the year by the total number of such pupils. For this purpose the school life of pupils leaving during the first, second, and third years has been taken as one, two, and three years respectively. This is undoubtedly too high, but there is compensation in that the school life of pupils leaving during the fourth and later years is taken as four years only, whereas (particularly in secondary and combined schools) many of them stay for a considerably longer period.

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Boys. Girls. Class of School. — 1 1928. 1929. 1930. 1931. 1928. 1929. j 1930. 1931. Primary .. ..89 90 88 87 63 64 61 58 Junior high .. 83 91 92 89 70 71 70 69 Secondary .. 81 87 80 78 47 48 37 29 Combined .. .. .. .. .. 89 .. .. .. 22 Technical .. 80 85 74 67 41 48 34 28 Secondary departments of 85 88 83 76 33 37 27 21 district high schools All post-primary schools.. 81 86 79 74 43 45 35 27

Secondary Combined Technical High District High Schools. Schools. and Technical Schools AH Schools. Day schools. Number. Number. Number. Number. Leaving in first year .. 754 16 39 28 .1,146 32 682 35 2,621 26 Leaving in second year 1,359 30 33 24 1,360 39 607 32 3,359 33 Leaving in third year .. 1,055 23 41 29 668 19 324 17 2,088 20 Leaving in fourth and 1,420 31 26 19 368 10 301 16 2,115 21 later year Totals, 1931 .. 4,588 100 139 100 3,542 100 1,914 100 10.183 100 Totals, 1930 .. 4,950 .. .. .. 3,094 .. 1,621 .. 9^665 Difference .. —362 .. +139 .. +448 .. +293 . . +518