asked the Minister for Education if he will state the number of secondary schools recognised by his Department for each of the school years 1952-3 and 1953-4 and the number of such secondary schools, if any, from which recognition has been withdrawn for the year 1953-4 and the reason for which such recognition was withdrawn.

In the school year 1952-53 there were (a) 420 fully recognised secondary schools and (b) 21 provisionally recognised secondary schools. The school-year 1953-54 will not commence until the 1st August, 1953, and it is not possible to state at this stage how many schools are likely to be recognised in that school year. It is probable, however, that all the schools in category (a) and most of the schools in category (b) will be recognised. One of the schools included in category (b), however, will not be recognised as it is clear even at this stage that the normal requirements for continued recognition will not be complied with.