E.—1

Table O 6. —Percentages of Boys leaving Post-primary Schools in 1931-34 who proceeded to the University or to Employment in the Three Main Occupational Groups.

Dealing first with pupils leaving primary schools, it will be observed that there has been no great change in the percentages of children proceeding to the various destinations and occupations. In the case of intermediate schools and departments, one of the changes is the continued decrease in the number of pupils remaining at home on completion of their school course. This decrease is partly accounted for in the case of the boys by an increase in the number entering commercial occupations and trades. In the case of the girls this is also true, but a greater number are also going on to further post-primary education than formerly. For comparative purposes only, the percentages of boys leaving the different classes of post-primary schools for the main occupational groups and for University education in the last four years are set down in Table 06. Taking all the schools together, the table shows that the increase in the number of boys entering the group of occupations " clerical, professional, shop, and warehouses " continues, and, in a less marked degree, in " trades and industries." These increases have been gained at the expense of the number proceeding to " farming " pursuits, but not to such a large extent as in 1932 and 1933. 16. VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE AND PLACEMENT. In Table P an attempt has been made to account for all children leaving all types of public schools. It is pleasing to note that a greater number of children continue to be absorbed either in some school or institution providing education of a higher grade than the one they have left or have engaged in some definite occupation. One inference that can be drawn from this statement is that the position regarding juvenile employment must be improving. To some extent this improvement may be attributed to the efforts of the school staffs in finding suitable avenues of employment for the pupils leaving school. Especially is this so in the case of the technical schools in the four main centres, where a member of the staff has been assigned the duties of school vocational officer. It is hoped that the evident improvement in professions and trade and industry generally will continue, when the services of these officers will be available more as advisers than as searchers for positions for their pupils leaving schools.

Table P.—Percentages of Pupils leaving Primary, Intermediate, and Post-primary Schools in 1931-34 who are known to have proceeded to Further Full-time Education of a Higher Grade or to some Definite Occupation (Home excluded).

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University. 8ho™and WarXuse. Farming. Trades and Industries. Class of School. 1931.|l932.|l933. 1934. 1931.1932.1 1933. 1934. 1931.1932. 1933. |l934. 1931.|l932. 1933.|l934. Secondary .. .. .. 9 8 6 5 28 32 41 49 28 23 18 15 11 13 14 14 Combined .. .. .. .. 5 5 4 35 33 33 43 33 29 24 24 14 10 16 ! 12 Technical .. . . .. 1 1 1 ] 22 22 31 35 27 22 19 17 15 23 26 30 District high .. .. .. 2 1 2 1 16 18 24 30 46 46 39 33 11 9 15 I 16 All schools .. .. .. 4 4 3 3 24 26 34 40 31 27 22 20 13 16 19 20 ■

Boys. Girls. Class of School. ; . — 1 1931. 1932. ! 1933. | 1934. 1931. 1932. 1933. ! 1934. I ___ I i Primary .. 87 88 89 90 58 59 63 64 Intermediate .. .. 89 92 91 91 69 69 72 76 Secondary .. 78 79 81 87 29 34 43 52 Combined .. 89 82 82 89 22 32 38 48 Technical .. .. 67 73 82 88 28 36 44 53 Secondary departments of 76 80 84 85 21 21 26 31 district high schools All post-primary schools.. 74 77 81 87 27 32 40 48