E.—l,

25. ENDOWED SCHOOLS AND REGISTERED PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS. The following table summarizes the returns furnished by endowed schools and registered private secondary schools with respect to the years 1933 and 1934 : —

Table T.

26. CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL. The Correspondence School continues to function successfully as an integral unit in the Department's system of rural education. It also serves the needs of a number of urban children who are unable to attend school owing to physical disability. The enrolment in December, 1934, numbered 1,764 pupils, of whom 1,348 were in the primary and 416 in the secondary division. In addition, assistance was given to the head teachers of 156 rural schools, who were regularly supplied with secondaryinstruction papers and model answers for use in teaching 203 pupils continuing in attendance at their schools. There is abundant evidence that this assistance was much appreciated by the teachers. The Correspondence School provides full courses of primary and secondary instruction from the primer stage to the Higher Leaving Certificate, and is inspected annually by the Inspectors of primary and secondary schools. The primary division was established in 1922, the secondary division in 1929. In 1934 the first pupil presented for the University Entrance Examination, who had been wholly educated by correspondence, was successful. This result was accomplished in the time normally taken in the ordinary schools. In 1934, of the 69 pupils who sat for the proficiency examination, 63 gained proficiency certificates and 2 gained competency certificates, thus 65 pupils qualified for post-primary junior free places, 26 qualified for senior free places, and 5 passed the University Entrance examination, including 4 four for School Certificate. The social education of the pupils was provided for by means of various school clubs and societies, including Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Dominion and overseas pen-friendships, League of Nations Union, philately, photography, meccano, forestry and nature study, and museum. A vigorous Ex Pupils' Association has been formed. In addition, there are a circulating library and an annual school magazine, The Postman, which consists chiefly of the pupils' own contributions —literary, artistic, and photographic. 27. KINDERGARTEN SCHOOLS. The number of schools, pupils on the roll, and average attendance at schools conducted in 1934 by recognized kindergarten associations were as follow:—

Table U.

28

— I 1933. 1934. Number of schools .. .. .. .. 55 55 Roll at 1st July .. .. .. .. 4,224 4,339 Average attendance .. .. .. .. 3,974 4,039 Teachers (inclusive of Principals) — Men .. .. .. .. . ■ 132 99 Women .. .. ... .. 161 172 Total .. .. .. 293 271

Association. Number of Schools. °* Sio'J at Average Attendance, End of 1934. 1934. Auckland .. .. .. 8 474 371 Hastings ........ 1 60 34 Hutt Valley ...... 1 50 47 Wellington .. .. .. 7 268 240 Christchurcli .. .. .. 7 529 398 Dunedin .. .. .. .. 5 270 232 Invercargill .. .. .. 4 176 147 Totals, 1934 .. .. 33 1,827 1,469 Totals, 1933 .. .. 32 1,859 j 1,512 Difference.. .. .. +1 —32 —43