asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the abnormal weather conditions during the early months of this year with consequent adverse effect on school attendance, he will not insist on the holding of the primary certificate examination this year.

In view of the importance generally of this examination and of the fact that a large number of primary school pupils would be deprived of the opportunity of obtaining the primary school certificate, I am unable to agree that the primary school certificate examination should not be held this year.