COOK ISLAND SCHOOLS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18990, 11 October 1923, Page 11

COOK ISLAND SCHOOLS.

NEW INSPECTION SYSTEM (From Odr Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 10. Mr G. Robertson, inspector of .schools in Dunedin, who went to Rarotonga in connection with the more regular system of school inspection that has been instituted in the Islands, returned to New Zealand by the Tahiti to-day. At; the request of the Government of Fiji a similar arrangement has been made with respect to the inspection ot schools in that group, and also to preserve the promotion and superannuation rights of the New Zealand teachers who may be appointed to schools there. There are four schools, says Air Robertson, in the Island of Rarotogna, with an attendance of about 550 native children and 20 white children. These schools are staffed by white teachers, assisted by native probationers. A definite syllabus of work has been adopted for the Cook Islands. The school buildings are of an open air type. The grounds are spacious and a system of ornamentation with garden plots has been initiated, and this phase of the work is eagerly taken up by the native children. , Air Robertson will submit a report with a number of recommendations to the Education Department.