E.-8

1919. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUC ATION: ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS. [In continuaation of E.-8, 1918.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. EXTRACT FROM THE FORTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. Annual Examinations. The annual examinations were conducted by the Education Department as usual for the various purposes of Junior and Senior National Scholarships, junior and senior free places in secondary schools, district high schools, and technical schools, and teachers' certificates. Also, by arrangement with the Public Service Commissioner, examinations were held for admission to and promotion in the Public Service. Owing to the influenza epidemic the last November-December series of examinations had to be postponed, and considerable disorganization of the arrangements resulted, particularly on account of the fact that candidates entered for examinations near the schools attended by them, and finally were examined at centres near their homes. The Public Service Entrance, the Senior National Scholarship, and the Intermediate (Senior Free Place) Examinations, which are usually held in November, were held between the sth and 19th January at the same time as the usual January series (the Teachers' Certificate, the Public Service Senior, and the Typists' Examinations). The Junior National Scholarship Examination, usually held at the end of November, or beginning of December, was not held until the 20th and 21st February, 1919. In previous years the Public Service Entrance Examination was held only once a year, in November. In 1918, however, at the request of the Public Service Commissioner, the Department conducted an additional special examination in June. The Public Service Senior Examination of January, 1919, was confined to those candidates who had previously obtained partial success and who desired to complete their passes. In January, 1920, only returned, soldier's who have previously obtained partial success and are desirous of completing their passes will be admitted to the examination. In future, officers of the Public Service will be required to take the Matriculation Examination in lieu of the Public Service Senior Examination. The following table shows collectively, in comparison with the preceding year, the number who entered for the various examinations above enumerated, the number present, and the number of absentees: — 1917-18. 1918-19. Number who entered .. .. .. .. .. 9,908 9.054 Number who actually sat for examination . . .. .. 8,821) 6,515 Number of absentees .. .. .. .. .. 1.079 2,539 Tn connection with the Junior National Scholarship Examination of January, 1919, the Department endeavoured, as far as possible, to prevent the presentation

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