9. Welsh Intermediate Schools.

297. The schools which form a part of the Welsh Intermediate School system are at present 101 in number, and are all included among schools recognised by the Board of Education as efficient. A separate Report on the proceedings under the Welsh Intermediate Education Act, 1889, is presented to Parliament annually by the Board pursuant to the provisions of that statute.

C. TECHNICAL COLLEGES, ETC.

1. Technical Schools and Colleges.

298. In the course of 1925-26 the three technical colleges in South Wales maintained, on the whole, the volume of work of the previous year; in one of the colleges there was an increase in the number of students; in the other two a slightly larger total decrease. The number of students in the South Wales and Monmouthshire School of Mines again fell, from 266 in 1924-25 to 230 in 1925–26.

2. Development of Vocational Instruction.

299. Schemes for the award of National Certificates and Diplomas, similar to those referred to in paragraphs 145 to 147 above, have been approved at certain technical colleges in Wales.

The following is a summary of the position during the year under review :

The following table shows the numbers of pupils attending Junior Technical Schools in Wales in the last four years :—

As regards part-time instruction in schools other than technical colleges, it will be seen from the tables below that the improvement in the provision by local education authorities of ordinary evening schools referred to in our last Report was continued in 1925–26.

3. Schools of Art and Art Classes.

300. Wales (including Monmouthshire).-During the last four years there has been each year a small but steady increase, from 129 in 1922-23 to 143 in 1924-25, and 141 in 1925-26, in the number of full-time students attending the four Schools of Art in Wales. There was a slight drop, from 921 in 1923-24 to 909 in 1924-25, in the number of part-time students attending these institutions,

but the combined hours of attendance of all students increased. In 1925-26 the numbers increased to 983. In addition to the Schools of Art two Art Classes are recognised in Wales; the number of parttime students attending these classes was 233 in 1925-26 as compared with 270 in the previous year.

D.-ADULT EDUCATION.

1. One-Year and Terminal Courses.

301. In North Wales the formation of a special district of the Workers' Educational Association has given an impetus to the establishment of classes. A representative and influential Council was formed, working in close co-operation with the University College of North Wales and under the chairmanship of the late Principal Thomas Rees. In its first session the Council organised and became financially responsible for one One-Year Course and seven Terminal Courses. The subjects studied were Welsh Literature, Industrial History, Economics, Principles of Teaching, and Greek. The lastnamed class, held at Rhos, near Wrexham, and composed mainly of miners, attracted some attention in the daily press, and subscriptions were received from well-wishers in different parts of the country towards defraying the fees of the students and the cost of text-books.

In South Wales, 23 classes (18 Terminal and 5 One-Year Courses) were conducted by the South Wales District of the Workers' Educational Association. The subjects studied were, in addition to those enumerated for the North Wales area, English Literature, Philosophy, Psychology, Music, Local Government, Bible Literature, and Early Church History.

302. The Welsh National Council of Y.M.C.A.'s is now recognised as an approved association. During the year the Council conducted five Terminal Courses in Economics, English, Psychology (2), and Sociology. The National Council of Music has also been recognised as an approved association. In addition to conducting classes itself, the Council of Music is prepared to provide University Tutorial Classes in Music in Wales with facilities for illustration and study.

303. Until two years ago voluntary associations in Wales did not undertake the actual conduct of classes, being content to render service to the development of adult education by stimulating the demand for it, and by co-operating with the University Colleges in the conduct of their University Tutorial Classes. This new undertaking on their part, i.e. the actual responsibility for the conduct of one-year and terminal classes, is receiving the Board's careful and sympathetic attention.

304. The foregoing courses are recognised by the Board under their Regulations for Adult Education. The statement of work accomplished would, however, be incomplete if no reference were made in this section of our Report to the classes of a similar nature organised by local education authorities and recognised by the Board under their Regulations for Further Education. One-Year classes of this description were conducted by the Glamorgan, Monmouthshire, Carmarthenshire, Brecknockshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Merionethshire, Cardiff, and Merthyr authorities.

305. The range of the work covered by these classes is shown by the following statement of the number of classes in the various subjects:

Economics and Industrial History: Glamorgan 13; Carmarthenshire 8; Monmouthshire 4; Denbighshire 1;

Flintshire 1; Merionethshire 1.

Geology Carmarthenshire 23; Monmouthshire 4.

Philosophy and Sociology: Monmouthshire 2; Carmarthenshire 1; Cardiff 1; Glamorgan 1.

Biology Carmarthenshire 3.

Botany Carnarvonshire 1; Denbighshire 1; Merthyr Tydfil 1.

2. University Tutorial Classes.

306. The range of the courses undertaken in 1925-26 by the four University Colleges of Wales is indicated by the following figures for the year 1925-26 :

The figures within brackets indicate the number of " Shift "Classes. These are included in the non-bracketed figures as single classes.

It is gratifying to observe the steady broadening of the range of subjects, though Economics and Political History still occupy a predominant place, with 66 classes out of a total of 166.

307. Welsh is either the exclusive or the normal medium of instruction in 44 classes. The lack of suitable Welsh text-books is a hindrance to the work, and the question of remedying this defect is now engaging the attention of the University Extension Board. The classes are excellently served by the National Library of Wales, from which 2,596 volumes have been despatched to 105 classes, in addition to over 900 to the One-Year and Terminal classes. Some of the County Circulating Libraries also co-operate closely with the classes, and make a special point of securing books bearing upon the courses of study. In some Public Libraries the necessary books of reference are set apart for the use of class students.

A scrutiny of the written work submitted by the classes proves that the students are being trained to do independent thinking. Some of the poems, short stories and essays originally written as exercises for classes have since appeared in various Welsh periodicals. Several of the History and Sociology classes are undertaking a certain amount of research into local lore and history, while some of the Literature classes have given public performances of plays on the completion of their course. There is also a growing tendency for the students to keep in touch with one another during the summer months by means of week-end schools and reunions. Nineteen students attended the Bangor Summer School in 1925, and many more attended similar schools in England. A notable feature of the classes is the happy relations existing between students and tutors.

308. The University of Wales Extension Board continues to show great interest in the work of adult education. During the year this Board has issued a Memorandum on "The Scope of University Extra-Mural Adult Education in Wales" and has reported to the University Council upon "The scope and incidence of the University Extension movement in Wales, with special reference to the relating of Tutorial Class students to the University. From that report it appears that 9 ex-Tutorial Class students are pursuing full-time courses at Universities and Colleges.

Grants are made by some local education authorities in aid of these classes, as well as in aid of the classes organised by approved associations.

309. There can be little doubt that the University, the University Colleges, the local education authorities, and the general educational public of Wales are watching with great and increasing interest the growth of this form of adult education. The provision of a liberal education for the adult members of the community makes a special appeal to the Welsh people, and promises to be an instrument of far-reaching importance in the life of Wales. The experiment can hardly be said as yet to have passed completely through its probationary period; and, though further progress in the number of classes provided may be very desirable, it is nevertheless incumbent