MR. O'BRIENasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, having regard to the increased attention latterly paid to agricultural instruction in National Schools in Ireland, and the want of acquaintance with agricultural subjects felt by the inspectors who have to conduct the examinations for results fees, he will consider the advisability of substituting in the examinations for inspectorships of National Schools marks for proficiency in agricultural knowledge for the marks at present given in respect of the German and Italian languages, with which the duties of inspectors of Primary Schools are not conversant?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, I know no reason to suppose that there is any want of capacity on the part of the Inspectors to examine the pupils of the ordinary National schools in the agricultural class books. The position is different with regard to the agricultural schools—i.e., schools having land attached to them—and in these cases there is a professionally qualified Inspector. With regard to the suggested alteration in the course of examination for Inspectorships, I have to observe that German and Italian are not obligatory subjects, They are among the voluntary subjects in an examination which is intended to test general ability, and not special knowledge. Candidates who have succeeded in the preliminary competitive examination are required to qualify in agriculture and other special subjects before they are given charge of a district. I do not think, therefore, that 221 there is any necessity for the proposed change.