E.—3

4

Native schools, together with such pupils as were receiving special technical training, at the end of the year 1916 was as follows : — I. Primary schools— (a.) Government Native schools .. .. .. 4,560 (b.) Mission schools . . . . . . . . . . 120 (c.) Public schools .. .. .. .. .. 4,628 ——| 9,308 11. Secondary schools .. .. .. .. .. . • 458 111. Special technical training .. .. .. .. . . 2 Total .. .. .. .. .. 9,768 Classification of Pupils. Tables H6, H6a, H6b, and 117 give full information as to the races and classification of pupils on the rolls of the Native schools. As will be seen, 85-1 per cent, were Maoris speaking Maori in their homes, 3-8 were Maoris speaking English in their homes, and 11-1 per cent, were Europeans. The percentage of Maoris speaking Maori in the home is 2-7 less than in 1915, of Maoris speaking English in the home 2-1 per cent, more, and of Europeans 0-6 more than in the previous year. In comparing Native schools and public schools with respect to the percentages of children in the various classes it will be found that in Native schools there is a larger percentage in the lower classes. The proportion of children at the various ages corresponds, however, very closely in the two classes of schools. The following table shows in a summary form the classification of pupils in Native schools, the percentages of pupils in the various classes in public schools being also shown for comparison : —

Efficiency of the Schools. The work of inspection and examination of Native schools was carried out in 1916 in the Hawke's Bay District under the supervision of the Senior Inspector of the district (formerly Senior Inspector of Native Schools); in other districts' the work was undertaken by the Inspector of Native schools, assisted by the departmental Inspectors stationed in those districts, to whom was assigned a certain proportion of the schools. It is gratifying to note that the reports of Inspectors, who had not previously visited Native schools, indicated generally a very satisfactory degree of efficiency. The following figures give an estimate of the efficiency of the schools, as judged by the Inspectors for the years 1915 and 1916 :— Number of Schools. 1915. 1916. Very good to excellent ... ... ... ... ... 35 39 Satisfactory to good ... ... ..." ... ... 71 65 Inferior to weak ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 11 The number of certificates of proficiency awarded was twenty-eight, and of competency (S6) twenty-six.

Percentage of Roll. Classes. Maoris. ! Europeans, Totals. Native Public Schools. Schools. Preparatory Standard I II III IV IV VI VII 2,033 641 627 509 376 247 116 11 193 67 69 70 65 57 45 6 2,226 708 696 579 441 304 16] 17 43-4 35-48 13-8 12-76 13-6 12-26 11-3 11-86 8-5 10-91 5-9 9-27 3-2 6-14 0-3 1-32