E.—lb

52

Of the 22,044 pupils presented on the examination schedules, 13,919 were entered for examination in one or other of the standards, being 395 more than the corresponding number for last year. In all, 13,498 were present and were examined in Standards I. to VI. Of these, 11,118 passed the standard for which they were presented, a result which gives 80 as the percentage of passes in standards. This percentage is the same as last year's. The percentage of failures in standards (the exceptions being excluded in this computation) was 15-J-, as compared with 18 for last year. The average percentage in class subjects was 56, as against 58 in 1887 ; and the average of additional marks 66, as against 63. In all the standards except Standard VI. there has been an advance in the percentage of standard passes, and in Standards 11. and V. the advance has been considerable. The results in Standard VI. are the same as last year's. The following statement, showing for the last three years the percentage of the whole number of schools in which the percentage of failures lay within a certain limited range, supplies ample evidence of continued improvement in the efficiency of the schools in the district:—■ Eane ofFai slure5lure e s ntage Year 1886. Year 1887. Year 1888. 0— 5 in 7 per cent, of the schools, in 7 per cent., in 9 per cent. 6—lo „ 9 „ „ 13 „ 15 11—20 „ 23 „ „ 32 „ 41 21—30 „ 29 „ „ 22 „ 13 31—40 „ 16 „ „ 16 „ 10 41—50 „ 9 „ 7 „ 7 51 and over 7 „ „ 3 „ 10 „ From this statement it will be seen that the percentage of the whole number of schools in which the percentage of failures was 20 or less has risen from 39 in 1886 to 52 in 1887, and to 65 in 1888. These figures show a highly satisfactory increase in the number of schools in which good examination results have been gained. The proportion of badly-managed schools remains much as it was. In Standard V. the results are higher than they have been for several years. The figures in the age column are, on the whole, more satisfactory than usual. On the average, Standard I. has been passed at an age of a trifle over nine years. This is the lowest average age at which this standard has been passed here for a good many years, but we hope that the teachers will not rest content until they have lowered this record by several months. In Standard 11. the age is five months higher than it was last year. The increase is due to the high age —nine years and three months—at which Standard I. was passed last year. In all the other standards except Standard 111. the ages are slightly lower than they were last year, and the mean of the average age is nearly eight months less. Though the age at which Standard I. is passed is higher in Otago than in most of the other districts of the colony-, the age at which Standard VI. is passed is as low here as it is elsewhere. The interval between passing Standard I. and Standard VI. is, in fact, as nearly as possible five years, so that very nearly all those who pass Standard VI. must pass a standard every year. During the year the teachers of the smaller schools have availed themselves more freely of the regulation allowing the grouping of certain classes in geography and history. It would be a distinct gain if this grouping were carried out wherever the same teacher has charge of the classes in Standards IV. and V. In the teaching of the infant classes the improvement which we noted with satisfaction in last year's report has not been very well maintained. A good many teachers give too little attention to their reading, and thus fail to lay a broad and solid foundation for the heavier work of subsequent years. Great benefit would accrue if the reading lessons at this stage were more thoroughly taught, and revisal and repetition of old lessons were practised more regularly. Monitors are very generally utilised in helping to teach the infant classes, but they are seldom trained with any care to do the work intrusted to them. In taking reading they sometimes appear to do more harm than good. The slate and desk exercises, though still deficient in variety and in the power of amusing little ones, are, for the most part, looked after with satisfactory care. Easy drawing exercises are not so much used as they might be. The blackboard is now widely used in teaching the elements of

standard Classes. Presented. Absent. Excepted. Failed. Passed. Percentage of Standard Passes. Average Age, Yrs. mos. P. SI S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 7,952 2,962 3,158 2,888 2,410 1,642 859 173 61 102 116 68 53 21 23 103 103 73 49 15 206 274 492 475 408 159 2,672 2,679 2,177 1,794 1,132 664 90 85 75 74 69 77 9 0-6 10 3-6 11 4-2 12 3-6 13 2-9 13 11-5 Totals ... 22,044 421 366 2,014 11,118 * * Mean of averai ;e a; 1.1 years 8 Lonths.