3

3

No account is taken in the above table of a number of schools that have from time to time been transferred to the various Education Boards. Table H2 herein supplies the information for each school in regard to the roll number and average attendance. In addition to the Maori children in attendance at the schools specially instituted for Natives there were 5,020 Natives attending 531 different public schools at the end of 1919, the number of pupils being 166 more than in 1918, and exceeding the number of Maoris attending Native village schools. The great majority of these pupils are in the North Island, more than half of them being in the Auckland District. Details as to their age and classification are given in Table H5, from which it may be seen that the great majority of the pupils are in. the lowest classes, the proportion reaching S5 and S6 being much smaller than in the case of Maori scholars attending the Native village schools. The total number of Maori children receiving primary education at the end of 1919, including pupils of Native village schools, mission schools, and public schools, was 9,737. Classification of Pupils. Tables H6, H(sa, HGb, and H7 give full information as to the races and classification of pupils on the rolls of the Native schools. As will be seen, 84-4 per cent, were Maoris speaking Maori in their homes, 3-1 per cent, were Maoris speaking English in their homes, and 12-5 per cent, were Europeans. In comparing Native schools with public schools in respect to the classification of pupils it will be seen that in Native schools a larger proportion of the pupils are in the lower classes, and also that the average age of the children in the various classes is higher than in public schools. Taking into consideration the irregular and nomadic habits of the Natives, and the fact that the schools are in. remote country districts, the difference is not greater than might be expected, and a comparison with small European schools similarly situated would probably show the Native schools at small, if any, disadvantage. 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, and in the case of Natives attending public schools being also shown for comparison : —

Efficiency of the Schools. The inspection of the schools was again carried out by the Inspector of Native Schools with the assistance of Public-school Inspectors who visited the schools of certain districts. This system has been in operation for four years, but in view of a certain amount of disorganization which was taking place it was decided to revert to the previous practice of having all Native schools inspected by special Native School Inspectors, and an additional Native School Inspector was appointed who took up his duties at the commencement of the current year. The experi-

Classes. atctenuing ai Native j Schools. S Percentage of Roll. Maoris Europeans Total attending attending attendine NT Native Native Native" Natjvp attending Schools. .Schools. Schools. gohools _ Schools _ pubUc fc Schools. ivLenciing Native Schools. I Preparatory Standard I II HI IV v VI VII .. 2,109 599 573 497 374 242 .. [ 131 .. j 25 2,109 202 2,311 44-4 35-05 -55-4 599 81 680 13-0 .12-50 14-8 573 68 641 12-3 12-45 11-2 497 80 577 11-3 12-39 8-4 374 69 443 8-5 11-24 5-2 242 85 327 6-3 9-70 ,'!-2 131 49 180 3-5 6-53 1-6 25 14 39 0-7 0-14 0-2 202 81 68 80 69 85 49 14 Totals .. I 4,550 1 _ _. 4,550 i 648 5,198 100-00 100-00 100-0 648