E.—l

IV

The proportion of the number of pupils in the classes above the class preparing for the Third Standard to the number in the lower classes continues to increase. In 1886 the number m the classes above the Third Standard was 23 - 8 per cent., m the five following years in succession the percentage is 25-9, 26-8, 27-4, 28 - 8, 30T The number of pupils in classes above the Sixth Standard (2,643) is not much greater than that of pupils above the age of fifteen (2,392)

TABLE D. —Classification by Standards, December, 1891. (See Table No. 2, Appendix, p.2.)

The average age of the pupils at the time of passing a given standard probably depends as much on the character of the examination, or upon relations established between the Inspectors and the teachers, as it does upon the efficiency of the schools. In comparing district with district considerable differences may be observed, but the general result varies but little from year to year The statistics under this head for 1891 are given m Table E

TABLE E.—Average Age of Pupils at Standard Examinations in 1891.

The statistical parts of the Inspectors' reports indicate a satisfactory measure of progress The aggregate of the roll-numbers of the several schools at the times of their examination was 118,440, and the standard passes were 59,511, or 5025 per cent of the total, the highest percentage that has yet been attained, and the percentage of failures (16"29) is lower than m any preceding year In nine years the percentage of passes has risen from 35 - l to 502, the percentage for ten years (1882-1891) being as follows 35-1, 37-4, 39-4, 41-9, 42-5, 44-9, 47-2, 48-5, 49-2, 50-2. In six years (1886-91) the percentage of

Standards. Boys. Girls. Totals. Percentaj ;es lor Five Years. 'reparatory classes ilass for Standard 1. II. III. IV V VI. 'assed Standard VI. Totals I I 17 185 ! 15,W6 8,685 J 8,034 8,357 ! 7 998 9,321 ■ 8,828 7 894 , 7 767 5,679 j 5,602 3,309 j 3,075 1,303 : 1 340 71 733 ' 57 790 32,331 16,719 16,355 18,149 15,661 11 281 6,384 2,643 1891. 27-05 13-99 13-68 15-19 13-10 9-44 5-34 2-21 1890. 27-48 14-06 14-59 15-04 12-95 901 4-80 2-07 1889. 27-75 14-70 14-73 15-42 12-42 8-48 4-52 1-98 1888. 26-90 15-53 15-19 15-63 12-23 8-46 4-35 1-71 1887. 26-77 16-59 15-39 15-39 12-15 7-92 4-06 1-73 119,523 100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00

Education Districts. Average Ages for Standards. Mean >f Ages. Auckland laranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborough kelson 3-rey ffestland STorth Canterbury South Canterbury Dtago Southland I. Yrs. mos. 8 10 9 1 9 5 8 8 9 6 9 4 8 10 8 9 9 4 8 10 8 11 9 0 9 3 II. III. Yrs. mos. Yrs. mos. 10 2 ; 11 6 10 8 12 0 10 8 ' 11 10 9 9 ; 11 0 10 5 ! 11 7 10 7' 11 8 10 0 I 11 0 9 9 11 3 10 8 ; 11 4 10 0 J 11 3 io o i li a 10 0 : 11 3 10 2 11 5 IV Yrs. mos. 12 7 12 8 12 9 12 0 12 3 12 8 12 4 12 0 12 2 12 3 12 0 12 2 12 6 V Yrs. mos. 13 6 13 7 13 7 12 10 13 0 13 2 12 10 13 1 13 8 13 2 12 10 18 1 18 5 VI. Yrs. mos. 14 4 14 11 14 6 13 7 14 1 14 3 14 4 13 11 13 9 14 0 13 11 13 11 14 5 1891. Yrs. mos. 11 10 12 2 12 1 11 4 11 9 11 11 11 7 11 5 11 9 11 7 11 6 11 7 11 10 1890. Yrs. mos. 11 10 12 3 11 11 11 2 11 9 11 4 11 4 12 0 11 8 11 6 11 7 11 11 Mean Range (difference between highest and lowest) 9 0 0 10 10 2 I 11 5 o li I l o 9 9 ! 11 4 0 11 j 0 11 12 0 4 9 13 0 2 9 14 1 1 4 11 9 0 10 11 1 8 1 Mean in 1890 Eange in 1890 9 0 0 11 12 1 4 2 13 1 3 3 14 1 1 3