E.—l.

In the table below are shown for comparative purposes the percentages of the total number of boys leaving each class of school last year who proceeded to the University or to employment in the three main occupational groups. The corresponding figures for the four previous years are also shown where these are available.

It will, be observed that there is a distinct drop in the percentage of boys entering the clerical, professional, shop and warehouse, and the trades and industries occupations during 1930 from all schools. The drop is most marked in the case of boys leaving purely secondary schools and entering the clerical, professional, shop, and warehouse occupations. To compensate for this drop the percentages of boys entering the farming occupations from each type of school shows an increase. A perusal of the individual returns from schools shows that the numbers returned as not entering any known occupation have definitely increased. But for this fact it could be stated that the trend of the movement from other occupational groups solely towards farming pursuits had definitely established itself. Nevertheless, it is pleasing to record such a marked increase under farming. Length of Post-primary Course. The returns compiled in 1930 by teachers show also the duration of the postprimary course taken by pupils who have now left school. Summarized, the position is as follows : —

From the above figures the average length of school life of pupils in the three classes of post-primary schools who left in 1930 can be obtained approximately by dividing the total school life of all pupils leaving during the year by the total number of such pupils. For the purposes of this computation the school life of children leaving in the fourth and later years has been taken as four years, since the separate figures for each year after the third are not obtained by the Department. For this reason the average lengths of school life shown below will probably be one to two months lower than is actually the case. Average Length of School Life. Years. Months. Secondary schools .. .. .. .. . . 2 8 District high schools . . .. .. . . . . 2 0 ' Technical high and technical day schools .. ... 1 11 All schools .. .. .. .. .. ~ 2 4

26

University. Warehouse. Sll0P ' Farming. Trades and Industries. Class of School. _ ' ' I I II" II 1926. 1927.1928. 1929. 1930. 1926. 1927.1928.11929. 1930. 1926. 1927.1928.1929. ,1930 1926. 1927. 1928.1929. 1930. ! ! 1 L ! Secondary .. * 7 5 3 7 * 43 44 50 35 * 17 18 19 25 * 11 12 12 12 Technical .. * 1 1 t 1 * 34 35 38 32 * 17 18 18 22 * 25 23 25 18 District high .. * t 1 1 t * 39 33 34 27 * 31 34 3-3 43 * 12 13 17 11 All schools .. 4 4 3 2 4 43 40 39 43 33 20 19 21 21 27 15 16 16 17 14 * Separate figures not available. t No significant percentage.

Secondary District High Technical High Schools. Schools. and Technical All Schools. Day Schools. Number. | Number. Number. Number. Leaving in first year .. .. 916 19 639 39 1,198 39 2,753 28 Leaving in second year .. .. 1,492 30 519 32 1,133 36 3,144 33 Leaving in third year .. .. 1,058 21 235 15 492 16 1,785 18 Leaving in fourth and later years .. 1,484 30 228 14 271 9 1,983 21 Totals .. .. 4,950 100 1,621 100 3,094 100 9,665 100