E.—l.

Numbers commencing Secondary Education, and Ages at which commenced. In 1930 13,012 children (6,860 boys and 6,152 girls) commenced post-primary education, as against 12,697 in the previous year. The ages of children commencing post-primary education in 1930 and the type of post-primary school at which they enrolled are shown below :—

During 1929 23,022 children left public primary schools. In 1930 506 commenced post-primary education who had attended private schools, the remainder, 12,506, coming from public primary schools, or 54 per cent, of the total of the pupils leaving in 1929. Last year this percentage was 51. Staffs and Salaries. The number of full-time teachers on the staffs of the forty-four secondary schools at the end of 1930 was 681, compared with 657 in 1929. There were 29 male and 15 female Principals and 343 male and 294 female assistants. The average rates of salary at the end of the year were as follows, the figures for 1924 being also shown :— . . 1924. 1930. Principals — £ £ Men . . .. .. .. .. .. . . 720 769 Women .. .. .. .. .. .. 553 576 Both sexes .. .. .. . , .. .. 658 703 Assistants— Men .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 374 402 Women .. . . .. .. .. .. 287 290 Both sexes .. .. .. .. .. .. 335 350 All teachers — Men .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 402 431 Women . . .. .. . . .. . . 303 304 Both sexes .. .. .. .. .. .. 358 373 In addition, male Principals for whom a residence was not provided received house allowance of £60 per^annum. TECHNICAL EDUCATION. The Superintendent of Technical Education reports that the quality and character of instruction in technical schools and technical high schools is improving with the improvement in the strength of staffing. There was an increase of over 6 per cent, in the total rolls of technical high and technical day schools. Staffs and Salaries. The number of full-time assistant teachers on the staffs of technical schools in 1930 was 345. There were eighteen full-time student teachers. The average rates of salary at Ist July, 1930, were as follows : Principals £667 (exclusive of house allowance). Assistants—Men, £407 ; women, £260; both, £350. All teachers (Principals and assistants) —Men, £432; women, £260; both, £369. With the

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Age at which Post-primary Course commenced. Total Numbers commencing Post-primary Class of School. Under 13 Years. 13 Years. 14 Years. 15 Years and over. Education in 1930. | - - : • Boys. Girls. Boys. ! Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Secondary .. 763 731 1,448 1,364 777 675 199 177 3,187:2,947 Technical .. 240 253 918 839 810 673 397 217 2,365 ' 1,982 District high .. 253 257 531 532 340 256 81 67 1,205 1,112 Junior high .. 14 18 47 54 33 28 9 11 103 111 Totals .. 1,270 j 1,259 2,944 2,789 1,960 1,632 686 472 6,860 6,152