E.—s

No. 1. EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. TECHNICAL EDUCATION. General. The work of the technical schools and classes has proceeded on the same general lines as in previous years. There are some signs of a recovery from the effects of the extraordinary conditions of the five preceding years. It is satisfactory to note that there was an increase of over 700 in the number of males over seventeen years of age attending classes, as well as an increase of over 300 in the number of boys of seventeen years and under. The reports of the technical Inspectors in regard to the quality of the work done, and the attendance and industry of the students show that a good standard is maintained in spite of the difficulties which are inherent in a system that involves mainly evening instruction of students who are at work during the daytime. The general dearth of apprentices in skilled trades, and the urgent necessity for training the youth of the country so as to fit them for filling the gaps in these trades are matters that demand serious consideration, and in this connection the question of introducing generally a system, of part-time day instruction, in the technical schools is one that merits the attention in this Dominion which it is receiving in Great Britain. Part-time day classes for apprentices have been arranged through the co-operation of employers and employees in one instance in the Dominion, but the results so far appear to indicate that some form of compulsion is necessary to ensure the regular attendance of the apprentices. In any case, however, the hearty co-operation of employers and employees is essential to the complete success of such classes. The total number of students receiving instruction in all technical classes was 20,87(3, as compared with 19,657 for the previous year. Of this total 2,754 held free places at technical high schools, 4,488 held free places at other classes, and 1,372 were attending continuation and. technical classes held under the regulations for compulsory attendance. Voluntary contributions in money to the funds of technical schools and classes amounted to £2,975, and subsidies were paid during the year 1919 to the amount of £4,640. The subsidies paid included limited subsidies on account of gifts of land made by local effort during the year, as well as amounts paid on account of contributions received by the controlling authorities during the previous year. Although voluntary contributions in money amount to less than 4 per cent, of the total income of the schools, they indicate a healthy general interest in technical education, and the amount would be considerably increased if the cost of land provided locally for technicaljschool purposes were included. Classes other than Classes at Technical High Schools. Classes were held at 110 centres. In the previous year the number of centres was 131, and the drop in number is accounted for by the discontinuance of farmers' classes in the Taranaki District held at a large number of centres, but each course occupying a very short period in the year. The number of classes and the number of individual students were as follows :—

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Number of Classes. Description of Class. Number of Students. 1918. 1919. 1918. 1919 1918. Conducted by Education or High School Boards Conducted by Technical School Boards or by Managers .. Conducted by University Colleges 1,111 672 182 I 959 879 176 9,176 6,949 785 8,232 8,664 1,054 Totals 1,965 1,965 2,014 2,014 16,910 17,950