B.—l

Technical High Schools. The year was marked by a distinct fall in the number of pupils taking the commercial and general courses. In all other courses an increase is shown. A significant fact is that the boys for the first time outnumber the girls in these schools. The number of students in attendance at technical high schools during the year was as follows : — _~,_,,„, , Number of Students. Technical High Schools. ( .„ Christchurch . . .. .. .. . . . . 596 581 Auckland .. .. .. .. .. 587 476 Dunedin . . . . .. .. . . 435 385 "Wanganui .. .. .. .. . . 300 312 Wellington .. .. .. .. . . 405 299 Invercargill .. .. .. .. .. 300 298 Napier .. .. .. .. .. .. ' 275 249 Hawera .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 142 Wcstport .. .. .. .. . .' 28 24 Totals .. .. .. .. .. ..2,926 2,766 The numbers of pupils taking up the various courses provided were as follows : —

Capitation amounting to £39,257 was earned in respect of 2,766 pupils (of whom 2,576 were free pupils), as compared with £41,1.1.3 in 1919 in respect of 2,926 pupils. Payments totalling £4,102 were also made in respect of increases in salaries of full-time instructors and directors, making a grand total of £43,359. Number of Pupils receiving Free Education at Technical High Schools under Regulations for Free Places.

Financial. The total expenditure by the Department for the year 1920-21 on technical education was £170,200, including approximately £43,000 expended on the maintenance of technical high schools. The expenditure is £38,000 greater than it was in the previous year, owing to the large sum of £67,000 having been expended upon new buildings and sites. Large and expensive building operations in connection with schools and hostels were carried on at a number of centres, notably at Pukekohe, Hawera, Stratford, Wellington, Westport, and Greymouth. The total capitation earnings of all classes, together with salary increases and allowances, including technical high schools, amounted approximately to £85,838, as compared with £83,915 for the previous year.

40

Course. 'umber of Pupils. Girls. i Increase over 1919. Total. Boys. industrial Commercial and general .. Jomcstic Agriculture Vrt 839 413 232 1 945 330 839 1,358 330 232 7 + 53 -277 + 33 + 29 + 2 6 Totals 1,485 1,281 2,766 -160

Boys. 1919. 1920. ■ . j. ., First year unior free pupils a j 1 l I Second year f First year ienior free pupils < Second year (/Third year 821 411 106 9 4 Girls. 710 462 182 44 5 Totals. 1,531 873 288 53 9 Boys. Girls. 759 588 467 412 124 153 24 38 3 8 Totals. 1,347 879 277 62 11 Totals 1,351 1,403 2,754 1,377 1,199 2,576