§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention had been called to a circular recently issued by the Commissioners of National Education to the authorities of the training colleges, authorising them to give preference to students of intermediate schools when filling up vacancies for King's scholarships; and, if so, will he state what is the date of this circular and explain why was it not made known to the national schools; whether, seeing that the official list placing the candidates in first, second, and third divisions was published in the Irish School Weekly of 17th June, 1911, he will say whether a subsequent list was sent to the training college authorities which differed materially from the list issued to the public; whether he will say if the examination fee of 10s. charged to the candidates would pay for the expense of publishing the marks in book form, as is done in every other public department, and what object is served by withholding from the candidates all information about the marks obtained by them at the examination; whether he is aware that the Irish National Teachers' organisation has repeatedly called for the publication of the marks; and can he state what percentage of marks was required to obtain first, second, and third divisions at the last Easter examination?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that no circular has been issued to the authorities of the training colleges authorising them to give preference to students of intermediate schools when filling vacancies for King's scholarships. On the 22nd May, 1909, the Principal of the Church of Ireland Training College was informed that in the selection of successful candidates 2857W for training the Commissioners are strongly in favour of a preference being given to candidates who have passed the intermediate examinations creditably. The official list of successful candidates at the King's Scholarship Examination supplied to the Press immediately upon the completion of the marking of the papers only arranges the candidates in order of examination numbers according to the division obtained in the pass list, whereas in the lists subsequently supplied to the training colleges the candidates are arranged in strict order of merit. In determining the position of the candidates in the order of merit lists for the colleges, the service merit marks awarded to monitors and pupil teachers in their final year of service are taken into account. These marks are not considered when deciding the division in the pass list. The Commissioners have made no inquiry as to the cost of publishing marks in book form. They do not consider that it would be in the interests of either the candidates or the colleges to issue such a publication. Applications for the publication of these marks have from time to time been received from various sources. The information asked for in the final paragraph of the question is not supplied to the public.