- 71 -The government school program varied slightly last year, with the introduction of teaching the science of geometry in the third and fourth years. Previous reports detailed the measures taken to provide religious education for Coptic children. I am pleased to report that 90 percent of their children receive religious education from Coptic teachers as part of the legal curriculum. A group of qualified teachers, holding teaching diplomas from normal schools, were replaced. The method followed in previous years was tried. The qualified teachers who were replaced by new ones were employed by the directorates or used in private schools. The number of candidates who sat for the primary certificate examination in 1913 was the highest to date, reaching 6628, an increase of 572 over the previous year. The breakdown of schools was as follows: From schools affiliated with the Ministry of Education: 1630 From other schools, mostly private: 4000 From those who studied at home: 993 Total: 6628 The number of successful candidates was 48 percent, compared to 46 percent the previous year. Among the candidates for the examination were 62 girls, of whom 30 passed. The average age of all successful candidates was 15.23. Government school students alone numbered 15. 23 - Secondary Education The desire for secondary education, mentioned in previous reports, has not diminished despite the expansion of intermediate commercial, industrial, and agricultural education between primary and secondary levels. The number of students who have completed their secondary studies has now increased, leading to a rise in the average grade required for admission to technical colleges. It has become possible to employ more qualified young men in government offices, even in minor positions. Government secondary schools have made continuous progress in the last three years. In 1911, there were five such schools with 2160 students. In 1912, progress continued, and the number of students reached 2485. Last year, their number reached 2532, and the number of students increased.