V

E.—l

Inspection and Examination. Table Cl is a summary for the whole colony of Table No. 3 in the Appendix, which shows the numbers in the several classes for the various districts. The proportion of pupils in the preparatory classes shows a further increase for the year from 27-56 per cent, to 27"97 per cent. The proportions in classes S2, S4, and S6 have also increased. The other classes present a slight decrease.

TABLE C1.—Classification by Standards, December, 1904.

As remarked in previous reports, the number of children in the preparatory classes (37,897) certainly seems high when the total number of children under eight years of age (40,039) is taken into account. Unfortunately, the proportion of children in these classes, as will be seen from the above table Cl, shows a steady inclination to rise. In 1898 they formed only 24"52 per cent. of a the total roll-number. Last year the proportion had increased by 3"45 per cent., although the percentage of children under eight years old remained almost the same.

TABLE C2.—Examination Statistics for 1904.

Table C 2 gives the number of children on the rolls of the schools in each district and the number present at the time of the Inspector's annual visit, and also shows the numbers of certificates of proficiency and competency issued. In the Auckland and Wellington Districts no such certificates were issued ; they will bepissued in all districts this year (1905). Table C 3 shows the average ages of the children in the several standards at the time of the annual or examination visit in the different districts, and the mean of the average ages in each case, taking the colony as a whole. The average age of those in Standard V., the " standard of exemption," was in Auckland, 12 years and 8 months, and in Taranaki and Westland, 13 years and 3 months, these being the lowest and highest respectively. For the colony the average age of the children in this standard in 1904 was 12 years and 10 months as against 12 years 11 months in 1903. With regard to the average age of passing Standard VI. the following paragraph extracted from last year's report may be here repeated : " The average age for

Standard Classes. Boys. Girls. Totals. Percent! ;es for Five Years. Preparatory SI S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 20,100 8,193 8,857 8,902 8,717 7,441 5,709 2,742 17,797 7,450 8.061 8,349 8,056 7,021 5,357 2,723 37,897 15,643 16,918 17,251 16,773 14,462 11,066 5,465 1904. 1903. 27-97 27-56 11-55 11-82 12-49 : 12-30 12-73 12-75 12-38 j 12-28 10-68 ! 10-98 8-17 8-08 4-03 4-23 1902. j 1901. 26-87 26-78 11-68 11-44 12-05 12-11 12-64 , 12-98 12-60 ; 12-73 11-13 11-37 8-52 ! 8-35 4-51 : 4-24 1900. 26-00 11-54 12-25 13-45 13-38 11-44 7-91 4-03 Totals.. 70,661 64,814 135,475 100-00 j 100-00 100-00 ■ 100-00 100-00

Number oi Pupils. Standard VI. Certificates granted. Education Districts. Total Rolls on Day of Annual Visit. Present on Day of Annual Visit. Present in Present in Preparatory Standard Classes. VII. Classes. Proficiency. Competency. Total. [ Auckland Taranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay .. Marlborough .. Nelson Grey Westland North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago Southland 30,236 4,891 12,249 16,089 8,681 1,935 5,547 1,671 1,033 19,560 5,073 19,638 9,600 28,227 4,600 11,560 15,134 8,133 1,834 5,280 1,577 1,006 18,335 4,809 18,807 9,259 9,963 1,449 3,538 4,467 2,494 460 1,551 552 345 5,450 1,389 5,799 2,908 122 71 241 677 136 30 109 56 57 294 137 358 184 120 602 327 80 258 52 65 868 307 1,109 527 41 161 92 694 113 '440 29 109 49 307 15 67 30 95 347 1,215 48 355 159 1,268 62 589 985 5,300 Totals .. 136,203 128,561 40,365 2,472 4,315