THE EDUCATION REPORT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 745, 11 June 1886, Page 26

THE EDUCATION REPORT.

The annual report of the Minister of Education h&s beeu presented to Parliament. It is somewhat voluminous, occupjing, with appendices, 127 closely-printed pages. The report states that tbe average school attendance f .i the year was 80,302, which is 4,911 in excess of the previous year. It is remarked that the number admitted during the year (50,628) is nearly half the total number on the books at the end of the Tear (102,407). It is stated, however, that tbe irregularity aud fitfulness of school attendance thus disclosed are diminishing rather than increasing, but that the unsteadiness of attendance undoubtedly militates against tbe efficiency of the schools. The proportion of children under seven years of age is steadily diminishing, and

the proportion between seven and ten is increasing. The number of boys exceeds that of girls by about 3 J per cent. The girls attend somewhat less regularly than the boys. Ihe proportion of pupils above the fourth standard is slowly iucre ising. The number of scholars that passed a standard during the year was 41,309 or 40 per cent of the roll number, a higher percentage than has been reached beThere are more than 400 children attending the schools who are not learning to write, and over 1500 not learning-arithmetic. The number of schools in operation ro=e from 987 to 1021 duriug the year. Of the 1021 schools, 29 are half-time schools ; for some purpos-8 these may be reckoned as 58, and the whole number stated as 1050, The number of schools did not increase in proportion to the attendance ; in 1884 the mean number in average attendance at each school was 77’8 ; in 1885, it was 80 The mean number for the Otago schools is 105'6 ; for Wellington, 10D4; for North Canterbury. 101 '7 ; for Hawkes Bay, 59 7. At the other extreme are Marlborough, 39’2 ; Nelson, 45‘8 ; Taranaki, 49-5. In the other districts the numbers range from 76*1 to 60. The schools described as aided have increased in number from 48 in 1883, and 70 in 1884, to 103 in 1885. In some districts these aided schools are partly maintained by local contributions. The number of teachers at the end of 1885 was 2619, .being greater by 172 than the number for 1884. The average number of children in attendance under the care of each teacher in the last quarter of the year was 31 -2. As the corresponding number for 1884 was 31*4, it follows that the growing number of scholars is adequately provided for by the appointment of new teachers. Tbe fortgoing statement does not include mistresses employed for a few hours in each week to give instruction in needlework ; their number at the end of the year was 148, against 161 in 1884. The number of teachers is 100 more than last year, and of pupil-teachers 72 more ; the respective totals heing teachers 1757, pupil-teachers 862. The total salaries of teachers during tbe year amounted to £270,628. The highest individual salary was £486 ; there were 15 above £406 (7 being in Otago, 4 in North Canterbury, 3 in Auckland, and 1 in Hawkes Bay) ; 47 from £3OO to £4OO ; 207 from £2OO to £3OO ; 949 from £IOO to £2OO ; 1549 below £IOO per annum. The rate of expenditure was £3 17s 5Jd per pupil, as against £3 17a lid in 1884, and £3 18s OJd in 1883. The whole cost, reckoned on the average attendance, is £4 2s 7d per child. The cost of Board management is 5s IJd per child, ranging from 33 5Jd in North Canterbury and 4s Id in < *tago, to 4s lid in Weilington"hnd 10s in Taranaki. The total cost of educational administration during the year (exclusive of expenditure on school buildings) was £336,333. The expenditure on school buildings was £64,821, Many schools are greatly overcrowded. The School Committees’ accounts are incomplete ; their balances do not agree with other records. Education reserves yielded £41,436 during the year (including balances on hand), viz , Auckland, £3IOB ; Taranaki, £1254 ; Wellington, £1164; Hawkes Hay, £2794 ; Marlborough, £359 ; Nelson, £984 ; Canterbury, £13,214 ; Westland, £ll2 ; Otago, £18,444.