E—2

In last year s report the School Certificate subjects were grouped in eight sections, and the number of candidates in each subject was given. This arrangement is again followed, and the numbers of candidates in 1947 and 1948 are both given A. Subjects Closely Associated With Core SyUabus—--1947. 1948 - English •• •• • • .. 8,447 8,369 History .. .. .. ..'5.362 4,721 Geography .. .. .. 4,767 4,769 Mathematics .. .. .. 4,035 3,920 General science .. .. • • 1,774 1 747 B. Fine Arts Subjects—Drawing and design .. ..1,081 982 * Music • • • • • • 175 197 Embroidery .. .. .. 23 49 C. Science Subjects— Applied mechanics .. .. 241 9^ Biology ;; 1; 579 Chemistry .. .. .. ..2,887 2,737 Electricity and magnetism .. .. 615 621 Heat, light, and sound .. .. 150 132 Physiology and hygiene .. .. 305 360 D. Agriculrual Subjects— General agriculture ... .. .. 370 307 Animal husbandry .. .. .. 90 117 Dairying .. .. .. .. 150 147 Horticulture .. .. .. qq gg E. Trades and Industrial Subjects— Engineering-shop work .. .. 222 249 Heat engines .. .. .. 35 38 Technical drawing . . .. .. 453 Technical electricity .. .. 130 140 Woodwork .. .. .. 187 212 F. Home-course Subjects— Homecraft .. .. .. .. 453 445 Clothing .. .. .. 599 605 G. Commercial Subjects— Commercial practice .. .. 632 808 Book-keeping .. .. ..1,211 1,166 Shorthand and typewriting .. .. 351 368 H. Foreign Languages— French .. .. .. .. 2,904 2,763 German .. .. .. .. 32 29 Greek .. .. .. .. 1 1 Latin .. .. .. .. 1,002 1,004 Maori .. .. .. .. 88 117 In all there were 8,592 candidates in 1948 and 8,706 in 1947. It will be seen that there is little change in many subjects, but where there is an upward tendency it is found in the newer subjects. The fact that 360 candidates offered physiology and hygiene shows that there is a definite desire to retain such a subject in the list of options for examination. With a revised prescription, it becomes human biology from 1949. Although the number of pupils taking languages for School Certificate has shown little change since last year it is considered that the general position of foreign language teaching has improved. The number of pupils taking French in junior forms has increased,

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