E.—l.

Table C4 shows the average ages at which the children passed the several standards in the different districts, and the average ages in each case taking the colony as a whole. Standard V., the " standard of exemption," was passed in South Canterbury and Otago on the average at the age of 12 years and 9 months, and in Taranaki at the age of 13 years and 4 months, these being the lowest and highest respectively. Bor the colony the average age at which this standard was passed in 1903, as in 1902, was 13 years. The average age for passing Standard VI. is of importance at the present time in consequence of the discussion that is taking place with respect to the limit of age imposed by the regulations for free admission to secondary schools in the case of those whose only qualification is the holding of Standard VI. certificates of proficiency. The condition is that the candidate for a free place shall not be over fourteen on the 31st December preceding the date of his admission to the secondary school. The average age for passing this standard ranges from 13 years and 6 months in Auckland to 14 years and 2 months in Marlborough, the average age for the colony being, as it was last year, 13 years and 10 months, and there is therefore ground for the belief that competent children, for whom the privilege is mainly intended, are not likely to find the restriction interfere with their promotion to the secondary schools.

TABLE C4.—Average Age of Pupils at Standard Examinations in 1903.

In Table D is given the number of pupils receiving instruction in each subject of the syllabus The most noticeable features are the large increases in the numbers learning handwork, singing, and drill, and the falling off in those learning grammar and elementary science.

TABLE D.—Number of Pupils instructed in each Subject, December, 1903.

{Continued on next page

VI

Education Districts. Average Aj [es of the ■upils in-ej .ch Class. Mean if Ages. Auckland Taranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborough Nelson Grey Westland North Canterbury* South Canterbury Otago Southland P. Yrs. mos 7 2 7 2 7 0 7 0 7 7 6 8 6 11 7 1 6 10 I. Yrs. mos 9 0 9 2 8 11 8 8 8 9 8 7 8 10 9 0 8 8 8 9 8 10 8 11 8 9 II. Yrs. mos. 9 11 10 3 9 11 9 10 9 11 9 7 9 11 9 11 9 11 9 10 9 9 9 11 9 11 III. Yrs. mos 10 11 11 7 11 3 10 11 11 1 10 11 11 3 11 1 11 1 10 11 10 9 10 10 10 11 IV. Yrs. mos. 11 11 12 7 12 3 11 11 12 3 12 0 12 2 12 0 12 5 11 11 11 10 12 0 11 10 V. Yrs. mos. 13 1 13 4 13 0 12 11 13 2 13 2 13 0 12 11 13 2 12 10 12 9 12 9 12 10 VI. Yrs. mos. 13 6 13 10 13 10 13 8 14 1 14 2 13 8 14 0 13 10 13 9 13 8 13 9 13 8 VII. Yrs. mos. 14 7 14 5 15 0 14 3 14 5 15 1 14 10 14 4 14 7 1903. Yrs. mos. 11 3 11 6 11 4 11 2 11 5 11 3 11 4 11 4 11 4 11 4 11 2 11 3 11 2 1902. Yrs. mos. 11 9 11 10 11 6 11 3 11 5 11 5 11 5 11 5 11 5 11 4 11 3 11 0 11 4 6 11 6 7 7 1 15 0 15 2 14 7 Mean of all districts .. 7 Of 8 10 9 11 11 0 12 1 13 0 13 10 14 8+ 11 4 11 5 Range (difference between highest and and lowest) Mean in 1902 Bange in 1902 1 Of 0 7 0 8 0 10 0 9 0 7 0 8 0 llf 0 4 0 10 8 10 0 9 9 11 1 0 10 11 0 11 12 0 0 9 18 1 0 2 13 10 0 10 11 5 0 10 * Particulars for classes P. and S7 were ni )t furnishr id by the Board's Inspectors. t Omitting North Canterbur

Education Districts. H HH SSfrH r3 O 5 -"" £"0 a '5 S 9 M a ri . a M-2 .S3 i.2 aa eh a & a o '(/) o a a o O 6 © a A & H O © a '$ =6 a a £ S ad U 0 Auckland Taranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborough Nelson .. Grey Westland North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago Southland 29,258 4,718 11,802 15,508 8,426 1,962 5,614 1,601 1,087 19,579 4,995 19,504 9,514 29,258 4,718 11,802 15,508 8,426 1,962 5,614 1,601 1,087 19,579 4,995 19,504 9,514 29,258 4,718 11,802 15,508 8,426 1,936 5,614 1,601 1,087 19,579 4,995 19,504 9,514 29,258 4,718 11,802 15,508 8,426 1,962 5,614 1,601 1,087 19,579 4,995 19,504 9,514 14,563 2,120 7,125 8,788 4,551 1,021 3,239 859 539 10,128 2,642 10,326 4,984 29,163 4,718 11,765 15,508 8,419 1,962 5,614 1,601 1,064 19,579 4,995 19,504 9,514 17,258 2,733 7,593 8,788 5,304 1,265 3,537 905 647 12,154 3,164 12,288 6,151 28,991 4,076 11,156 15,275 8,317 1,938 4,807 1,601 927 19,298 3,104 19,001 9,304 13,407 2,050 5,940 8,157 4,295 1,009 3,108 859 531 9,700 2,561 10,095 4,913 Totals for 1903 Totals for 1902 133,568 132,262 133,568 132,261 1,307 133,542 132,262 1,280 133,568 132,261 70,885 67,£20 133,406 132,234 81,787 80,357 127,795 118,900 66,625 74,401 Difference 1,306 1,307 3,365 1,172 1,430 8,895 -7,776