E.—2.

number of schools opened during the year was 120. The totals of schools closed and of schools opened during the year are as follows : —

Increases and Decreases in Number of Public Schools.

The net increase in the number of schools open at the end of the year is thus 59. The total number of public schools in each grade is shown in Table A; it is, of course, necessary to remember that the grading in 1908 was in accordance with the former scale, whereas the grading for 1909 is that prescribed by the First Schedule to the Education Amendment Act, 1908.

TABLE A.—Number of Public Schools in each Grade, 1908 and 1909.

The number of schools in each grade in the several education districts are given in Table Al.

3

District. Number of Schools closed. i Number of Schools opened. Increase in Number of Schools. Decrease in Number of Schools. Auckland Taranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborough Nelson Grey Westland North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago Southland 15 2 7 5 5 8 6 2 2 4 1 1 3 61 30 5 12 4 21 17 8 4 h 5 6 3 120 15 3 5 i 16 9 2 2 1 4 5 2 120 61 Increaso (l'JO'J) 59

Number of Schools. Number of Schools. Grade (as in Education Act, 11)08). 1908. Grade (as in Education Amendment Act, 190HI. 1000. 0. (1-15) 1. (16-20) 2. (21-25) 3. (26-32) 4. (33-40) 5. (41-50) 0. (51-60) 7. (61-75) 8. (76-90) 'J. (91-120) 10. (121-150) 11. (151-200) .. 12. (201-250) .. 13. (251-280) .. 14. (281-330) 15. (331-390) .. 16. (391-420) .. 17. (421-480) .. 18. (181-510) .. 19. (511-570) 20. (£71-600) .. 21. (601-660) .. 22. (661-690) .. 23. (691-750) .. 24. (751-780) .. 25. (781-840) .. 26. (841-870) 27. (871-930) .. 28. (931-960) .. 29. (961-1,020) .. 30. (Over 1,020) 504 250 216 190 139 169 82 82 61 75 43 40 33 15 20 17 12 ? 8 2 10 2 4 4 2 1 0. (1-8) 1. (9-15) 2. (16-25) 3. (26-35) 4. (36-80) 5. (81-120) . I 6a. (121-160) ■ j 6b. (161-200) ,. I 7a. (201-250) '•( 7b. (251-300) f 8a. (301-350) 8.- 8b. (351-400) ( 8c. (401-450) ( 9a. (451-500) 9. J 9b. (501-550) ( ( Jc. (551-600) (10a. (601-650) 10b. (651-700) 10c. (701-750) 10d. (751-800) 1u -"\10k. (801-850) .. .. 10p. (851-900) lOo. (901-950) VIOh. (951-1,000) 182 387 438 259 434 118 55 34 31 23 21 14 12 8 8 5 9 6 3 2 4 2 9. 10. "2 1 Total .. 2,057 Total 1,998