E.—1.

Number of Children who commenced Post-primary Courses in 1928 and who DEFINITELY LEFT IN THE SAME YEAR.

Free Places. The following table shows the number of free places held in 1928 on the dates shown :— Boys. Girls. Total. (i) Secondary schools (at 30th June, 1928) — (a) Junior free pupils .. .. .. 5,586 4,893 10,479 (b) Senior free pupils .. .. .. 2,496 1,956 4,452 Totals .. .. .. .. 8,082 6,849 14,931 (ii) District high schools (at 30th June, 1928) — (a) Junior free pupils .. .. .. 1,741 1,569 3,310 (b) Senior free pupils .. .. . . 372 351 723 Totals .. .. .. .. 2,113 1,920 4,033 (iii) Maori secondary schools (at 31st December, 1928) .. .. .. .. .. 67 83 150 (iv) Technical high schools and technical day schools (at 30th June, 1928) — (a) Junior free pupils .. .. .. 3,211 2,594 5,805 (b) Senior free pupils .. .. .. 634 553 1,187 Totals .. .. .. .. 3,845 3,147 6,992 (v) Third-year pupils at Kowhai and Northcote Junior High Schools (at 30tli June, 1928) .. 92 115 207 Grand totals .. .. .. 14,199 12,114 26,313 There were on the 30th June, 1928, 27,084 children in attendance at Government schools providing secondary education, as against 25,314 in the previous year. Ninety-seven per cent, of the children in attendance in 1928 at Government schools providing secondary education were holders of free places. This liberality in the provision of free secondary education is a phase of educational policy in New Zealand which can justifiably be regarded with satisfaction. The extent to which New Zealand leads even older countries m this matter becomes apparent when it is noted that in 1928 only 40 per cent, of the pupils in attendance at secondary schools in England and Wales were free-place holders.

28

During During During During During During During During During During During ! First Second Third | Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Type of School. j Month Month Month Month Month j Month Month Month Month Month : Month Total. of of of] of of | of of of of of | of (Course. Course, j Course, j Course. Course. j Course. Course. Course Course. Course. Course. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. J B. G. B. G. B. G Secondary schools .. ..8 410 7 8 1117 12 13 1421 16 42 27 27 16 35 14j 38 17 292 319 511 457 V y A y v V J K V ' V ' K V J Y J V ~Y "V Y ' | V Y~ J V Percentage . . . . . . ] 2 j 2 3 3 4 7 4 5 j 6 63 100 Secondary departments of district 13 14 10 612 18 23 1013 16 13 14 26 14 26 11 22 16! 43 23,132 127 333 269 high schooIs — v — v —v — J —v — ; f —y —' —v — 7 v y — ; v —y- —' v v —'\~ v y J v j Percentage .. .. .. 5 3 | 5 5 5 4 7 6 6 | 11 43 100 Technical high and day school .. 12 10 8 418 24116 1928 2128 19 47 4043 41 46 31|13J 136 277 247 654 592 v y ,K - Y A y y ' v Y >K Y M Y "T Y 1K Y V Y J \~ Y ' Y Percentage .. .. .. 2 1 3 3 4 4 7 7 6 | 21 42 100 Totals.. .. .. 33 28 28 17 38 5356 4154 5162 49115 81|96 68103 61,212 1761701 6931,498 1,318 k J \ Y JK y AV Y J Y j K Y ' K — Y Y "V Y Y J ~Y ' Y ' Percentage .. .. 2 2 j 3 j 3 4 4 7 j 6 ! 6 | 14 49 100