§ MR. RICHARD M. DANE (Fermanagh, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) if he is aware that at the intermediate education examinations (Ireland) of 1896 the marking in English (boys middle grade) was unusually severe, 48 per cent. of the candidates being adjudged to have failed, some of whom would have gained exhibitions but for this, and that this result has been widely protested against by teachers; (2) if any reason can be assigned for such raising of the standard required, without previous notice, for some only of the students, and in a subject indispensable to passing the examination generally; and (3) if any steps are being taken by the Commissioners to prevent a recurrence of such results?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am informed by the Assistant Commissioners of Intermediate Education that it is the case that about 47 per cent. of boys of 1291 the prescribed age in the middle grade failed to pass in English in 1896, and that some students who failed in English would have retained exhibitions were it not for such failure. Representations on the subject from teachers were received and considered by the Board. As regards the second paragraph, the conditions of passing in the subject, English, were the same in 1896 as in the previous year. The question of the examination in English generally, and in English composition in particular, is engaging the attention of the Board.