E.—3

7

Attendances, etc. 1, Village Schools. The number of pupils on the rolls of the 118 village schools on the 31st December, 1916, was—Maoris, 4,560; Europeans, 572: total, 5,132: a decrease of 59 on the roll number of the previous year. The average weekly roll number for the year was 5,237, and the average attendance 4,546, the average percentage of regularity being 86"8, compared with 876 in the preceding year. In thirty-six schools an average of over 90 per cent, of the possible attendance for the year was attained, Manaia school again gaining the distinction of first place in the list. Sixty-three schools are shown as having attained between 80 and 90 per cent, of the possible attendance, the remaining nineteen schools failing to reach 80 per cent. During the year the attendance in many schools was affected by sickness amongst the pupils. Good-attendance certificates wore gained by 570 pupils of the village schools. 2. Mission Schools. Three mission schools— Tokaanu Convent School, Matata Convent School, and Putiki Mission School —were inspected during the year. The total roll number of these schools at. the end of the year was 120, the average roll number was ]33*58, and the average percentage of regularity was 88-4. 3. Secondary Schools. The ten secondary schools which have been established by various denominational bodies in the Dominion for the purpose of affording advanced training to Maori girls and boys wen; visited and inspected during the year. The combined roll number of these schools at the end of the year 1916 was 457, the average roll number was 465*19, and the average percentage of regularity was 93. The following table summarizes the facts in connection with the attendance of the foregoing classes of schools :—

Classification, The classification of the pupils in the Native primary schools (including the three Mission schools) as at the 31st December, 1916, is shown as follows : — Classes. ' Number on Roll. Standard VII ... ... ... ... 17 VI ... • ... ... 168 V ... ... ... 314 IV ... ... ... ... ... 448 111 ... ... ... '.. ... 600 II 707 I ... ... ... ... ... 725 Preparatory ... ... ... ... ... 2,273 Totals ... ... ... ... ... 5,252 School Buildings and Grounds. Only in a comparatively few schools has it been found necessary to report unfavourably upon the conditions of the buildings as regards cleanliness, the condition of the schools as a whole in this respect being distinctly creditable. It has to be remembered that in this connection no funds are supplied for school-cleaning purposes as in the case of public schools, and the cleaning is done principally by the school-children under the supervision of the teacher. One school was described by a public-school Inspector as the cleanest school he had ever seen. It is necessary to refer again to the cheerless and unattractive appearance of the interior of some of the schoolrooms, and to the resultant deadening influence upon the children. In other schools this matter receives particular attention, and it is a great pleasure to enter such schoolrooms and note their attractive appearance, their tidiness, and their orderly neatness. Some improvement is noticeable in regard to the school-grounds in some of those schools referred to in adverse terms in last year's report and in previous reports, but much more requires to be done. A general survey of the grounds and buildings affords a very fair index of the efficiency and discipline of a school, and likewise of the personality of the teacher. The teacher who possesses the necessary enthusiasm and tact can do much in encouraging local effort,

Schools. "ative villages "ative mission 'ative secondary. . Totals Roll Number Average Number. at the End of Weekly Roll Year. Number. 118 5,132 5.237 3 120 134 10 457 465 131 5,709 5.836 Average Attendance. 4,546 118 432 5,096 Percentage of Regularity. 96-8 88-4 930 87-3