APRIL 20.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1059

22. The standard of attainment for a certificate of proficiency shall be the same in all schools. No one shall receive a certificate of proficiency unless he (a) obtains at least 30 per cent. of the possible marks in each of the subjects English and arithmetic; (b) gains at least 50 per cent. of the possible aggregate marks in the following compulsory subjects—viz., English, arithmetic, geography, drawing; and (c) satisfies the Inspector that he has received sufficient instruction in the other compulsory subjects, and in the additional subjects, as prescribed by these regulations. In the compulsory subjects named in (b) the possible marks shall be in the following proportions, viz.: English, 400; arithmetic, 200; geography, 100; drawing, 100.

23. All certificates shall be on forms issued by the Department, and shall be signed by an Inspector of Schools, or by the Secretary of the Education Department, or of an Education Board, in accordance with information furnished by an Inspector.

Special and Central Examinations.

24. The Inspector may also hold special examinations of candidates, whether of school age or not, for certificates of competency or for certificates of proficiency at any place and time that may seem fit to him, and may require candidates for such special examinations to give fourteen days’ notice of their intention to be examined.

25. By or on behalf of each candidate at such special examinations there shall be paid to the Inspector, or to the Secretary of the Education Board, if the Board shall so direct, the following fees, viz.: If there be only one candidate, £1; if there be two candidates, 10s. for each candidate; if there be three candidates, 6s. 8d. for each candidate; if there be four or more candidates, 5s. for each candidate. But no fee shall be payable in the case of any one examined at a school at the time of the Inspector’s annual visit to such school.

26. Notwithstanding clause 21, the Inspector need not, at the time of his annual visit to a school, examine for certificates of proficiency, and Standard VI. certificates of competency, the pupils of S6 and other candidates who are of school age. He may arrange to hold a central examination for all such pupils and candidates from places within a convenient radius, due notice of such examination being given. This examination, being in lieu of the annual examination of S6, is not to be regarded as a special examination within the meaning of clauses 23 and 24.

Nevertheless, at the time of his annual visit to the school, the Inspector shall satisfy himself of the general efficiency of the instruction given in S6, as provided for in clause 8.

Annual Return.

27. The Inspector or Inspectors of each district shall make an annual return showing, with respect to each public school subject to their inspection, the number of pupils in the several classes and the number present in each class at the time of the annual visit. The return shall indicate the degree of attention paid to the several compulsory subjects and to the additional subjects respectively, and state in brief the Inspector’s opinion of the order, discipline, and tone of each school. The return shall also include a statement of the average age of the pupils in each of the classes S1 to S7.

COURSE OF INSTRUCTION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

CLASSES P–S2.

28. The following subjects shall be compulsory in all schools for classes P, S1, and S2: (1) English, (2) arithmetic, (3) drawing, (4) singing, (5) physical instruction. Instruction of the kind indicated in clauses 48 and 53 must also be given.

29. In the same classes the following shall be the additional subjects: (1) A definite course of nature-study, (2) handwork, (3) geography (in S2), (4) needlework.

30. All the additional subjects may be taken in any school. In schools of Grades 1, 2, 3, all the additional subjects may be omitted. In schools of Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, at least two of the additional subjects shall be taken. In schools of 9 and higher grades, at least two of the additional subjects shall be taken in classes P and S1, and at least three in S2. In all schools of Grade 4 and higher grades, both boys and girls shall take either a definite course of nature-study or a course of handwork.

CLASSES S3–S6.

31. The following subjects shall be compulsory in all schools for classes S3, S4, S5, and S6: viz., (1) English, (2) arithmetic, (3) drawing, (4) singing, (5) physical instruction, (6) geography courses A and B,