E—l

Even in Form V of tlie post-primary school there have been changes, as is shown by the following table, which gives, over forty years, the increase in the numbers of pupils sitting for the external examination ordinarily taken at the end of Form Y. Up to 1934 this was the University Entrance (Matriculation) Examination. From 1934 onwards it was either the University Entrance or the School Certificate Examination, and so the total number of individuals sitting for either of these examinations is given. From 1946, when the standard of the University Entrance was raised by one year, the sole examination at Form Y was the School Certificate :

The second column in the table gives, for each year concerned, the total number of boys and girls in New Zealand in the age-group fifteen to nineteen inclusive, which would be the group including most of the candidates. This provides a rough measure of the increase in population over the period. It will be seen that the relevant population increased by 45 per cent, between the years 1906 and 1947, whilst over the same period the number of candidates for the examination increased by 553 per cent. Between 1945 -and 1947 there was a drop of 2-3 per cent, in the age-group, but a rise of 26*2 per cent, in the number of candidates. This rapid rise in the proportion of the population entering for the School Certificate Examination is, of course, the logical conclusion of the policy of free post-primary education for all. The striking jump in the figures for the past two years is, no doubt, due in the main to the new status of the School Certificate, and to the fact that it can now be taken with a wide range of subjects, many of them of a practical or technical nature. Highly desirable though this growing popularity of the School Certificate is, it must not be forgotten that it inevitably means a lowering of the average standard in academic subjects of the candidates. Many pupils are now sitting for the examination who, ten years ago, would not have thought of doing so. So it is only to be expected that the efforts of some of them in English and other academic subjects should leave much to be •desired. It is for the Department to see that, however wide and practical the range of subjects may be, the over-all standard of the pass mark be maintained.

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Five-year AgeYear. group (15 to Candidates. under 20). New School Certificate— 1947 126,500 8,447 1946 128,100 8,300 1945 129,500 6,693 1944 130,800 6,052 1943 132,400 5,398 1942 133,500 4,942 1941 135,000 5,044 1940 136,400 5,191 1939 135,400 5,437 1938 133,500 4.925 1937 132,500 4,860 1936 (Census).. 132,245 4,774 1935 130,935 4,602 Matriculation and School Certificate — 1934 132,354 4,610 1931 133,800 4,779 1926 (Census).. 124,314 4,679 1921 (Census) 107,350 3,643 1916 (Census).. 91,404 1,546 1911 (Census).. 88,458 1,102 Matriculation— 1906 (Census).. 87,117 1,292