».—2.

4

cent, greater than in the previous year. The following figures show the average weekly roll number and the roll number at the end of 1918 : —

The percentage increase in the average roll during the last five years has been as follows: 1914, 3-6 per cent. ; 1915, 3-2 per cent. ; 1916, 1-6 per cent. ; 1917, 2-1 per cent. ; 1918, 1-8 per cent. ; the increase in 1918 not being so great as it has been in previous years. The increased numbers are spread over the children of all classes with the exception of S7, and more especially of the preparatory classes. The number of pupils in the preparatory classes and between the ages of five and six years was 950 less than in the previous year, indicating a falling-off in the number of new entrants. The increase in the roll number was greater in the North Island (including Marlborough) than in the South Island, the percentage increases being 3-0 and 1-5 respectively. The table below shows the mean average roll number for every fifth year from 1878 to 1903, and for each of the last eleven years ; the table gives also the total average attendance for each year, the average attendance as a percentage of the roll (including secondary departments of district high schools), and the number of teachers employed in the public schools.

Schools, Attendance, and Teachers.

The above figures relate to public schools. To estimate the total number of children receiving primary education in the Dominion it will be necessary to include public schools (exclusive of secondary departments of district high schools), Native schools, registered private primary schools, the lower departments of secondary schools, and special schools. The figures will then be : — Average Weekly Roll Number. Public schools (less secondary departments of district 1917. 1918. high schools) .. .. .. .. ..185,549 188,932 Native village and Native mission schools .. .. 5,315 5,223 Registered private primary schools .. .. .. 18,594* 20,076* Lower departments of secondary schools .. .. 580* 665* Special schools .. .. .. .. .. 600 252 Total average weekly roll of primary scholars .. 210,638 215,148 * Number on roll at end of year.

Mean of Average Weekly Roll. Roll Number at end of Year. Including Second- Excluding Second- Including Second- Exoluding Secondary Departments \ ai-y Departments ary Departments ary Departments of Distriot High of District. High of District High of District High Schools. Schools. Schools. Schools. _' I fear 1918.. .. .. 191,382 188,932 194,934 192,680 fear 1917 .. .. .. 187,954 185,549 - 190,354 188,174 Increase in 1918 .. 3,428 3,383 4,580 4,506 Increase por cent, in 1918 1"8 1-8 2-4 2-4 3,383 4,580 4,506 1 -8 2-4 2-1

Year. I Mean Average Number ,.",""",: Average ■ Attendance of wISchT : Attendance, i as PercentSchools, tj^i i J Whole Year. age of lton ' Weekly Koll. Number of Adults. F. Total. 'oacheri Pup: i. il-toachers. Total. St. F. Total. 1878 .. 1883 .. 1888 .. 1893 .. 1898 .. 1903 .. 1908 .. 1909 .. 1910 .. 1911 .. 1912 .. 1913 .. 1914 .. 1915 .. 1916 .. 1917 .. 1918 . . 748 .. *48,773 .. 70 971 90,859 69,838 76-9 90 . 1,158 113,636 +90,108 ' 79'3 1,03 . 1,375 125,692 1109,321 79.3 I 1,10 . 1,655 133,782 111,636 83-4 1,23 . 1,786 134,748 113,047 I 83-9 1,27 . 1,998 145,974 127,160 87'1 1,33 . 2,057 151,142 132,773 87-8 1,40 . 2,096 154,756 135,738 87-7 1.46 . 2,166 159,299 142,186 89-3 1,49 . 2,214 164,492 146,282 88'9 1,56 . 2,255 169,530 151,242 89-2 1,6C . 2,301 175,570 158,134 804 1,62 . 2,338 181,229 163,092 900 1,5. . 2,355 184,056 163,156 88'6 1,5C . 2,368 187,954 168,711 89-8 1,3c . 2,365 191.382 169,836 88-7 1,3C 76-9 79-3 79-8 83-4 83-9 87-1 87-8 87-7 89-3 88-9 89-2 90-1 90-0 88-0 89-8 88-7 707 905 1,039 1.107 1,234 1,270 1,331 1,406 1.456 1,493 1,555 1,603 1,628 1,591 1,501 1,383 1,366 07 454 1,161 05 656 1,561 39 887 1,926 07 1,096 2,203 34 1,370 2,604 70 1,726 \ 2,996 31 2,021 3,352 06 2,208 | 3,614 56 2,252 ' 3,708 93 2,351 ! 3,844 55 2,550 j 4,105 03 2,059 4,262 28 2,820 ! 4,448 91 3,077 j 4,668 01 3,209 4,710 83 3,224 4,707 166 3,452 4,818 454 656 887 1,096 1,370 1,726 2,021 2,208 2,252 2,351 2,550 2,059 2,820 3,077 3,209 3,224 3,452 1,161 1,561 1,926 2,203 2,604 2,996 3,352 3,614 3,708 3,844 4,105 4,262 4,448 4,668 4,710 4,707 4,818 118 1.59 219 238 229 147 161 166 174 179 162 142 139 141 137 132 123 332 571 694 825 831 552 476 530 526 528 476 474 470 485 519 517 523 450 730 913 1.003 1,060 699 637 696 §700 §707 §638 §616 §609 §626 §656 §649 §646 * Average of three quarters. t Strict average. t Working average. § Elxcli Lsive of male aud fi -male probationers.