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SOUTH CANTEEBUEY. Sib,— 29th May, 1882. I have the honor to submit my general report on the work of inspection for the year 1881. Thirty-five schools were in operation during the year, being an increase of six on the number at work in 1880. With the exception of North Orari, which has been closed for the greater part of the year, all the schools have been examined in standards, and in a few cases, where the results were unsatisfactory, a supplementary standard examination was held at the close of the year. Three small schools received no intermediate visit of inspection, but the larger proportion have been visited several times. The following table shows the general results of the standard examinations in the several schools, giving the attendance, the classification of the scholars after examination, and the percentage of passes : — Eoll at December, 1881 ... ... 3,531 Eoll at December, 1881 ... '... 3,531 Percentage of roll number presented ... 516 Presented in standards ... ... 1,833 Passed —percentage of number presented 734 Passed as presented ... ... ... 1,346 Percentage of roll number passed— Percentage of number presented in each Standard VI. ... ... ... '9 standard passed— V. ... ... ... 1-3 Standard VI. ... ... ... 536 IV. ... 45 „ V. ... ... ... 39-6 111 90 „ IV 545 II 115 „ 111 726 I. ... ... ... 90 „ 11. ... ... ... 85-8 Total percentage ... ... ... 362 „ I. ... ~. ... 768 Total percentage of passes ... ... 73'4< The following table compares the number and percentage passed in each standard for the pas three years:—

A further comparison gives the number and percentage in the three main divisions into which all the scholars may be suitably divided : —

And further, in 1879 1,159 out of 1,397, or 843 per cent., passed their standards as presented; in 1880, 1,538 out of 1,790, or 859 per cent. • and in 1881, 1,346 out of 1,833, or 734 per cent. Viewing these comparisons it will be seen (1) that the number of scholars present at examination (2,859) was about the same as last year; (2) that the average standard of attainment, as shown by the classification after examination, has slightly improved, there being a larger proportion of scholars in the higher standards; (3) that the year's work compares unfavourably with that of last year, the percentage of scholars who passed their standards being 734 as against 859 for 1880. This low percentage of passes is undoubtedly the result of loss of time caused by the prevalence of sickness. An epidemic of measles visited the whole district, and most of the schools were closed for several weeks and greatly disorganized. Many of the examinations were of necessity held immediately before or too soon after the schools were closed to admit of the results being taken as fairly representing the school work. In one case, where I had every confidence in the ability and zeal of the master, the work was defective and the oral answering slow and inaccurate; but it was evident that the desire to be present at the examination had brought a considerable number of children to school who were unfit to leave their homes. The following day so many of the scholars were absent on account of measles that the school was closed.

18' '9. 18! 10. 18! il. Number. Percentage. Number. Percentage. Number. Percentage. 'assed Standard VI. » jj * • Illn. i. ielow Standard I. 8 57 133 221 468 394 907 ■3 26 62 100 213 179 413 12 101 168 390 54G 521 1,095 •4 35 59 13 8 19 3 18-4 38'6 40 73 235 455 529 420 1,107 1-4 25 8-2 16-0 18-5 14-7 38-7 2,193 2,833 2,859

18 '9. 180. 1881. Number. Percentage. Number. Percentage. Number. Percentage. 'assed in Stands. VI.,V.,IV. „ III., II., I. 'ailed to reach Standard I. 203 1,083 907 90 500 410 281 1,457 1,095 9-9 51-4 38-7 348 1,404 1,107 122 491 387 2,193 2,833 2,859