E.—l

1888. NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency

Office of the Department of Education, Sib,— Wellington, sth May, 1888. I have the honour, in accordance with the provisions of " The Education Act, 1877," to submit to your Excellency the following report upon the progress and condition of public education in New Zealand during the year ending the 31st day of December, 1887. I have, &c, G-EOEGE FISHEE. His Excellency Sir William F. Drummond Jervois, G.C.M.G., &c, Governor of New Zealand.

REPORT. This report contains information not only with respect to the administration of the Education Act and the Education Beserves Act, but also with respect to Native schools, the deaf-mute institution, the industrial schools, the University of New Zealand, the University colleges, and the secondary schools. Separate papers (E.-2, 4, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) will supply further details with respect to all these institutions, and there are also special papers containing the InspectorGeneral's report on the annual examination of candidates for teachers' certificates (E.-la), and the several reports made by the Inspectors of Schools to the Education Boards (E.-1b). The Appendix to this report contains the reports of the Education Boards and of the Commissioners of Eeserves, and some statistics that could not be included in the text. Public Schools. The most important change that has been made in the system of public instruction since its institution is the abolition of the rule of granting the capitation allowance according to what has been known as the " working average." This change was announced at the end of 1887, but did not take effect till the beginning of 1888. The meaning of the term " working average " was defined by the revoked Order in Council in the following words :— The school shall be held to be open any morning or afternoon if one child be present before the first half-hour of the ordinary school time has passed. The average daily attendance for any period shall be ascertained by dividing the total number of attendances for the period by the number of half-days on which the school has been open during the period. The average daily I—E. 1.

EDUCATION: ELEVENTH ANNUAL EEPOET OF THE MINISTEE OF EDUCATION. [In Continuation of E.-l, 1887.]