69

E.—l

Schools.—During the year ninety-eight schools were in operation, but the aided schools at Ditton and Kaiwhata had to be closed before the end of the year The Grassendale School was not open at any part of the year New schools were opened at the State Farm, Levin, Scarborough, Mangaone Valley Maikairo, and Kaipororo. The classification of the schools open at the end of the year, according to the attendance, was Under 15 pupils, four 15 and under 20 pupils, eight 20 and under 25 pupils, six 25 and under 50 pupils, thirty-seven 50 and under 75 pupils, ten , 75 and under 100 pupils, six , 100 and under 150 pupils, seven 150 and under 300 pupils, eight, 300 and under 500 pupils, eight, 500 pupils and upwards, two. The most important items of school expenditure are Newtown, additional classrooms in separate building and alterations to the main building, £1,037 3s. Id. Mitchelltown, new school, £884 19s. 6d. Otaki, new school, to replace the building which was burned down, £869 12s. sd. Khandallali, new school, £477 ss. 10d. Masterton, additions, £422 Is. 2d., Wadestown, additions, £316 4s. lid., Fernridge, additions, £245 9s. 4d. Paikakariki, residence, £230 9s. sd. Greytown, additions, £137 14s. Mount Cook Girls' alterations and repairs, £109 17s. The Board has arranged that during the Christmas vacation it will, year by year gradually deal with the most necessitous cases of repairs which cannot be met by the carpenter during the time schools are open. Attendance. —The schools opened after the Christmas vacation with 11,065 children on the books. During the year 6,098 were admitted—2,4Bß in March quarter, 1,262 in June quarter, 1,278 in September quarter, and 1,070 in December quarter The withdrawals during the same period numbered 4,591, divided as follows March quarter, 833 June quarter, 1,326 , September quarter 1,191; December quarter, 1,241, leaving 12,572 at the end of the year with a strict average of 10,225, and a working average —on which the capitation grant is paid, and on which salaries are calculated—of 10,299, a difference of only 74, due, probably, more to the summer weather than to the provisions of the School Attendance Act, which has hardly had time to prove its undoubted usefulness. The figures in favour of the working average for the previous quarters were March, 75 June, 154 , September, 214. At the close of the year we had 12,572 children on the books, classified as follows Five and under six years, 970 , six and under seven years, 1,318 , seven and under eight years, 1,566 eight and under nine years, 1,483 , nine and under ten years, 1,442 , ten and under eleven years, 1,544 , eleven and under twelve years, 1,392 twelve and under thirteen years, 1,206, thirteen and under fourteen years, 950, fourteen and under fifteen years, 532 , above fifteen years of age, 169. The number of Maori and half-caste children attending the Board schools were 80 Maoris— 41 males, 39 females 6 half-castes living as members of a Native tribe—4 males, 2 females, 70 half-castes living among Europeans —41 males, 29 females. These were distributed among twentyfour schools. Teachers. —The 318 teachers in the Board's service are classified as follows Head teachers — 47 males, 8 females , sole teachers, 14 males, 27 females , assistants, 26 males, 50 females, pupilteachers, 19 males, 127 females , with 9 teachers of sewing. The certificates held by head teachers, sole teachers, and assistants are A, one, B, five , C, sixteen, D, sixty-one, E, seventy-four We have now only one uncertificated teacher in the Board's service in charge of a Board school, and eight in charge of aided schools. Among those ranking as pupil-teachers there are seven who have passed the D certificate and matriculation examinations , five who have passed for the D certificate, one who has passed for the E certificate and the matriculation, and obtained a partial pass for the D certificate three who have passed the matriculation, and obtained a partial pass for the D certificate three who have passed for the E certificate, and obtained a partial pass for the D certificate two who have passed the matriculation and E certificate examinations twenty-six who have passed for the E certificate, one who has matriculated, and obtained a partial pass for the E certificate , twenty-five who have matriculated , and nine who have obtained partial success towards the E certificate so that out of the 166 pupil-teachers on the list for 1895 there are only eighty-four who do not hold some qualification Beyond the standard pass. The classification of the pupil-teachers for 1895, including candidates unattached, is Ex-pupil-teachers, 59 fifth-year pupil-teachers, 22, fourth-year pupil-teachers, 21, third-year pupil-teachers, 31, second-year pupil-teachers, 13 ' first-year pupil-teachers, 20. In the absence of a university or training college at which pupil-teachers could continue their studies after the completion of their term of service, the Board retains them on the staff of the respective schools to which they have been attached, classifying them as ex-pupil-teachers, and allowing a special salary between that of senior pupil-teachers and junior assistants. This arrangement has many advantages, but absorbs considerable outlay annually beyond what would be caused were they to remove from the Board's service and their places be filled by first-year pupil-teachers. The examination was conducted in December, as in previous years, at Masterton and Wellington. Sixty-five candidates were examined in the full subjects for the pupil-teacher course, and ten who had matriculated were examined in science, school management, and drawing. Scholarships.—One hundred and fifty-five candidates presented themselves at the examination held in October, and, although some of these did not obtain half-marks in English and arithmetic, all the winners of the city scholarships, and one winner of a country scholarship, were commended for their excellent papers. Scholarships were awarded to [ten boys and ten girls] From the annual report of the Inspectors it will be seen that the first year's examination on the papers set by the Education Department has resulted in less standard passes being recorded than in the previous year still, under the circumstances, such results are considered satisfactory Out of a roll-number of 12,643 —306 increase on the total number of children on the books at the time of the previous examination —6,458 passed their respective standards, as against 6,818 for the previous year From the lost ground which many schools had to make up, and the changes of programme and varying tests, the number of failures was greater than