E.—l.

The following figures must consequently be given with some reserve, but they are probably not far from the truth : — Average Length of School Life. Yrs. m. Secondary schools .. .. .. .. .. ..28 Combined schools .. .. .. .. .. ..25 Technical high and day schools . . .. .. ..21 Secondary departments of district high schools.. . . ..22 All post-primary schools . . .. .. .. ..24 In the case of pupils who enter upon post-primary courses and leave during the same year, the Department has been furnished with information showing in months the duration of the period of attendance of such pupils, and this information is tabulated below. The totals shown in the table are slightly below those shown as leaving in the first year in the table immediately preceding. This difference is due to the fact that the table below concerns only pupils who commenced and terminated their post-primary courses in the same year, while the table above includes under " first year " pupils who, though in the first year of a post-primary course when they left, actually commenced that course in a previous calendar year or at a private secondary school.

Table Q2. —Number of Children who commenced Post-primary Courses in 1931 and who definitely left in the same Year.

18. FREE PLACES IN POST-PRIMARY SCHOOLS. The following table gives the number of free-place holders in post-primary schools in 1930 and 1931 : —

Table R.—Free-place Holders as at 1st July.

27

During During During During During During During During During During During First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Type of School. Month Month Month Month Month Month Month Month Month Month Month Total. of of of of of of of of of of of Course. Course. Course. Course. Course. Course. Course. Course. Course. Course. Course. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. Secondary schools .. .. 5 5 7 511 1212 1612 9 17 16 32 1918 10 27 12 20 23191 249 352 376 Percentage .. ..1 2 3 4 3 5 7 4 5 6 60 100 Combined schools .. ..3 61 12 21 —-1 — 2 ■— 6 12— 1 — 1 .. .. 16 23 Percentage* .. .. ..23 5 10 3 3 5 46 3 3 .. .. 100 Technical schools .. ..12 9 18 7 21 16 33 24 24 17 29 28 36 25 38 17 30 29 40 32 299 350 580 554 V y > K y JK Y ' Y ' K Y /V Y ' Y ' Y ' K Y ' K Y ' V Y JK Y J Percentage .. .. ..2 2 3 5 4 5 6 5 5 6 57 100 Secondary departments of district 6 1512 9 13 612 11 8 1126 14 34 17 30 21 27 16 25 23143 152 336 295 high schools Y ' K y J K y J y y ' V y —' y y ' K y J K y ' K V — J K v ' K v ' K y ' Percentage .. .. ..3 3 3 4 3 6 8 8 7 8 47 100 Totals .. .. .. 26 35 38 22 47 36 58 5145 37 74 58108 73 86 49 84 58 85 78 633 751 1,284 1,248 v Y Y } K Y Y J K Y ;V Y J K Y ' Y ' K Y J K Y 1 K Y Y ' Percentage .. ..3 3 3 4 3 5 7 5 6 6 55 100 * The percentages given here for combined schools have little statistical value as both schools concerned were badly affected by the Hawke's Bay earthquake, and conditions were abnormal.

Technical Secondary junior Maori All Secondary Combined High and Departments Hjgh Secondary primary Schools. Schools. Day of District Schools Schools * Schools. High Schools. hcll ools. bchools. Schools. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Junior free places .. .. 5,6365,115 169 145 3,7162,9782,0791,864 159 155 65 73 11,82410,330 Senior free places .. .. 3,213 2,262 91 56 996 728 675 605 .. .. 5 .. 4,980 3,651 Totals .. .. 8,8497,377 260 201 4,7123,7062,7542,469 159 155 70 73^16,80413,981 Grand totals, 1931 .. 16?226 461 8?418 5,223 314 143 30,785 Grand totals, 1930 .. 16,056 .. 7,853 4,564 172 167 28,812 Difference .. .. +170 +461 +565 +659 +142 — 24 +1,973 * As at end of year.