NATIVE SCHOOLS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 136, 1 August 1911, Page 6

NATIVE SCHOOLS.

At the end of last year there were,

in addition to public schools giving instruction to Maori children, 114 schools in operation for the primary purpose of giving instruction to tiie Maori. Of these 99 wore native village schools, 6 were mission schools sooject to inspection by the Education Department, and 9 were boaiding schools affording secondary education to Maoris. The number ol scholars on the rolls of tho native village schools rose from 4121 to 4280 during tiie year —tne average attendance being 3714. The percentage of regularity ol attendance was higher last year than it has been for at least ton years, a result which must bo considered highly satisfactory when it is remembered that all the native schools are situated in rural districts having, in most cases, a sparse and widely-scattered papulation. In many of the village sci-ools, notably Te Ivao in the far north, the attendance is remarkably good, the regularity in T ally one-third ox them reacning over 9U per cent. There were 381 Maori boys and_ girls receiving higher education, 3/8 ol u noin were attending tiie various secondary native schools, while the remaining 3 boys were pupils of other secondary schools. Of tnese 64 boys and 83 girls were holders of free places provided by the Government. ilie number of European children attend-1 lug native schools rose from 391 to 42/. The total number of children of Maori or mixed race on the rolls of primary native schools, public schools, native mission scnools, and secondary native schools, together with such pupils as wore receiving special technical training at the' end of tho year 1910 was 9355. On the staffs of the village schools 'were 78 masters, 21 mistresses in charge, 109 assistants, and sowing teachers. Three schools are in charge of teachers who are themselves members of the Maori race, 1 and the inspectors speak very highly of their efficiency. Several Muon girls who have completed their course in the secondary schools are employed as junior assistants, and are on the whole doing satisfactory work. The total expenditure on native schools during the year 1910 was £33,387 Is lid. Included In this amount is the sum of £1305 paid from revenues from national endowments. Now buildings and additions involved an expenditure of £2844, maintenance and repairs £1269.