E.—l.

2i. POST-PRIMARY EDUCATION. At the end of 1932 post-primary education was provided for in thirty-eight secondary schools, six combined schools, twenty-one technical schools, one separate junior high school, eighty district high schools, fifty-four endowed schools and registered private secondary schools ; a total of 200, as compared with 201 at the end of 1931. The decrease of four in secondary schools is apparent only, these now being regarded as combined schools. The number of technical schools was reduced by two in consequence of the merging of these two schools under the one controlling authority with the existing secondary schools as combined schools, and increased by the addition of Otahuhu Technical School, making a net reduction in the total of one. Ivowhai was the only separate junior high school, Otahuhu post-primary forms being regarded as a technical high school, and, in the case of district high schools, there was a net decrease of two caused by the closing of Karamea and normal schools at Dunedin and Christchurch and the opening of a district-high-school department at Kurow. The increase of three in the number of registered private secondary schools was due to the approval of applications for registration from Diocesan Girls' School, Hamilton ; Convent, Palmerston North; and St. Mary's Convent, Westport. Two factors contributed to an eventful year for pupils and teachers alike in post-primary schools. The first was the suspension of accrediting and the substitution of a modified Intermediate Examination for pupils desirous of continuing their education with the assistance of senior free places", the second was the substitution of University National Bursaries to be won on the results obtained in the University Entrance Scholarship Examination in place of University Bursaries usually obtained by the great majority of pupils on a higher-leaving-certificate qualification granted without examination. These two subjects are dealt with further in the report of the Chief Inspector of Secondary Schools printed in E.-2. The total roll numbers of full-time day pupils attending post-primary schools at Ist July were as follows : — 1931. 1932. Secondary .. .. •• •• •• 16,445 14,705 Combined .. .. ■■ •• •• 2,170 Technical .. .. •• •• •• 8,541 8,786 Separate junior high school (Form 111 only) .. .. 314 216 Secondary departments of district high schools .. .. 5,291 5,067 Endowed schools and registered private secondary schools .. 4,414 4,372 Totals .. .. •• •• 35,467 35,316 In addition, at the Ist July, 1932, there were 387 pupils receiving secondary instruction by means of correspondence from the Department's Correspondence School. 22. EVENING TECHNICAL CLASSES AND PART - TIME DAY CLASSES. During 1932 evening technical and part-time day classes were conducted at thirty-nine° centres, compared with forty-three centres in 1931. The four centres which did not conduct classes this year were very small when consideration is given to the number of students they catered for in comparison with other centres. As at Ist July these classes provided instruction for 9,459 students, as against 10,536 students in 1931. Of the 9,459 students, 5,963 were males and 3,596 were females, 3,102 of the males and 2,032 of the females held free places, a total of 5,134 compared with 5,316 in 1931. Unfortunately, a decrease in the number of students attending these classes has to be recorded. This is just a further indication that the depression in trade continues with a consequent lack of demand for labour, especially apprentices. No doubt some of the students who would have enrolled in evening classes had they obtained employment, have remained at school as full-time day pupils, but the main reason for the falling-ofi in the numbers may be attributed to the depressed state of industry.

4—E. 1.

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