The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1911. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 29, 19 September 1911, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1911. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.

ft is certainly interesting to learn from statistics recently compiled, that New Zealand heads the list of the Australasian States for the best percentage of attendance at primary schools. Figures published show that over eighty-five per cent, of the children on the rolls of our rural schools attend daily, while the averages for Australian States are;—Victoria 82.9, West Australia 81.4, Queensland 75.9, South - Australia 74.5, Now South Wales GB.l, and Tasmania 59.7. When comparisons arennade in New Zealand, the Education Department’s report ;hows that the districts having tho lowest average are Grey 84.7, Taranaki 85.7, Wanganui 86.0, and Nelson

86.4. In 1909 tlio North Island attained the same standard of regularity as the South, but owing to the exceptionally high average obtained by Otago, and to the fact that North Canterbury has shown great improvement in this respect during the year, the average for the South has risen, that for the North falling in about the same proportion. They stood last year: North Island 87.4, South Island 38.1. As New Zealand is essentially a rural country, the authorities consider its school attendance averages highly satisfactory. Of course one has to boar in mind the fact that every possible facility is given by the Government and the Education Boards of. the Dominion to enable regular attendance! at school to be made without very great hardship, and in this respect perhaps in no State of Australasia are the conditions better.