11

E.—l

Sβ Certificates. —The percentage of pupils who gained certificates of proficiency and competency respectively for the three years 1908-10 are as follows :— 1903. 1909. 1910. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per 0 nt. Gained certificates'of proficiency ... ... 6 L - 96 67-54 68-74 competency ... ... 2529 21-75 2053 No certificate ... ... ... ... 12-75 1071 10-73 10000 10000 10000 There has been a steady increase in the last four years in the number of certificates of proficiency issued, while the number of certificates of competency shows a corresponding, though by no means so marked, decline. Average Age. —The average ages of the pupils in the several classes for the three years 1908-10 were as follows : — J 'JUS. 1910. Yi-s. Mo. Yre. Mo. Yrs. Mo. Preparatory classes ... ... ... 7 2 6 11 7 0 Class SI ... ... ... ... 9 3 9 2 9 2 ~ S2 ... ... ... ... 10 3 10 3 10 2 „ S3 ... ... ... ... 11 3 11 4 11 3 „ S4 12 3 12 3 12 3 „ S5 ... ... ... ... 13 1 13 0 13 1 „ S6 ... ... ... ... 14 0 13 11 14 0 „ S7 ... ... ... ... 14 9 15 0 15 0 Mean of average ages ... ... ... 11 6 11 5 11 6 Details for the several districts will be found in Table D 3. The Inspector-General in his report again calls attention to the high average age in Standard VI, and to the still increasing proportion of children in the preparatory classes. He points out that while the percentage of children on the school-roll between five and eight years of age has risen in the years 1905-10 from 29*8 to 31*1, the percentage of the roll in the preparatory classes has risen from 28-3 to 37*2. On the average, therefore, a longer period is being spent in the infant classes without, in his opinion, any corresponding advantage, but with this obvious disadvantage —that boys and girls begin their secondary education nearly a too late. Table D 4 shows the number of pupils in each education district receiving instruction in the various subjects set forth in the syllabus. All scholars received instruction in English, and practically all in arithmetic, drawing, and physical instruction. It may be of interest to compare the numbers doing nature-study, handwork, and elementary agriculture during the past five years. The total number doing handwork in 1910 is not available, as the number has been split up under the headings of the various subjects included under the general title of handwork— viz., coakery, woodwork, needlework, elementary agriculture, and other branches of handwork. _ Number of Pupils. 1906. 1907. 1908. 1909. 1910. Roll .. .. ■• ■• 139,302 141,071 147,428 152,416 156,324 Nature-study .. .. .. 120,833 122,660 128,716 134,651 136,341 Handwork .. .. .. .. 98,465 105,514 112,952 116,588 Elementary agriculture and dairy-work \„% 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,200 15,159 Cookery ' Ifg .. .. .. 5,155 Woodwork .. .. .. %-, .. .. .. .. 5,532 Needlework i |J 53,901 53,789 55,065 55,911 54,606 Other branches of handwork .. /"? ■ .. .. .. .. 100,772 It will be seen that, whereas the number taking handwork generally probably shows a very considerable increase, and the number receiving instruction in elementary agriculture and dairy work is half as much again as that for 1909, the number being instructed in needlework shows a decrease. Conveyance of Children. Conveyance by Rail. —Since the year 1895 children out of the reach of a primary school, but living near to a convenient line of railway, have been granted free passes to the nearest public school or private school; in 1902 this privilege was extended