E.—l.

GENERAL. School Music. Although increased interest in music was first manifested in primary schools, due to the concentration of effort in that direction, the good effect of this work has spread to secondary schools. The extent to which improvement in school music has taken place in the schools is dealt with in the report of the Chief Inspector of Primary Schools. Annual Examinations. The annual examinations conducted by the Department are as follows : (1) An examination to determine the grant of Junior Scholarships and junior free places, held in November ; (2) a main series consisting of Training College Entrance, Public Service Entrance, Senior National Scholarship, and Intermediate Examinations ; (3) an August series for teachers' certificates of Classes D and C and Handicraft, and incidentally to some extent of Class B ; (4) Technological examinations, and examinations for elementary kindergarten certificates. The examinations were held at seventy-six centres in 1930. The total number of entries for all examinations was 7,501, of which number 7,208 candidates actually presented themselves for examination. 6,030 candidates were exempted from the necessity of passing the Intermediate Examination, due to the accrediting principle by which candidates for senior free places may be exempted from an external examination. The number of candidates actually presenting themselves for the various examinations during the last three years is shown below : —

Of the 1,118 candidates for Junior National Scholarships in .1930, 168 obtained the scholarship qualification, 612 qualified for a free place in the scholarship examination, and 506 failed. Of the 673 candidates for Senior National Scholarships, 93 gained scholarships, 494 qualified for senior free places, and 179 failed. There were 1,264 entries for the Intermediate Examination, 1,170 candidates presenting themselves, of which number 343 passed and 827 failed to do so. The number present at the Public Service Entrance Examination was 2,338, 1,195 of the number passing and 1,143 failing the examination. The number of candidates who sat for the different stages of the teachers' certificate examinations was 953 (343 for the whole or part of Glass C and 610 for Class D). Of the total number, 209 obtained complete passes in Class D, 137 in Class C, 4 in Class B, and 1 in Class A. 421 improved their status, and 181 failed. Of the 177 candidates who presented themselves for the technological examinations, 43 obtained passes in the Preliminary Examination, 35 in the Intermediate Examination, 21 in the Einal Examination, and 78 failed. The first examination for Training College Entrance, which was established under regulations made in 1929, was held in November, 1930. Of 752 candidates entered for the examination, 743 presented themselves, of which number 498 obtained complete passes, 203 obtained partial passes, and 42 failed.

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1928. 1929. 1930. Junior National Scholarships and junior free places , .. .. 1,456 1,409 1,118 Public Service Entrance, Senior National Scholarships, and Intermediate 4,570 4,520 4,181 Teachers D and 0 .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,086 1,994 953 Training College Entrance .. .. .. .. . . .. . . 743 Kindergarten Certificate Examination .. .. .. .. 14 6 4 London University Examinations .. .. .. .. .. 1 3 4 Handicraft Teachers' Certificate . . . . . . .. . . 17 21 25 Technological examinations . . . . . . . . . . 51 161 177 Naval Cadetships . . . . . . . . . . .. 2 2 1 Aircraft Apprenticeships .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Totals .. .. .. .. .. .. 8,197 8,116 7,208