25

E.—l

The number of pupils on the rolls of the Native mission schools at the end of 1920 was 267, and on the rolls of the Native boarding-schools 474. The total number of children on the roll, at the end of the year, of Native village, mission, and boarding-schools visited and inspected by the Inspectors of this Department was therefore 6,249. The following are the figures for the years 1919 and 1920 in respect of the three classes of Native schools mentioned :■ — ' r 1919. 1920. Combined rolls of Native schools .. .. .. .. 5,799 6,249 Combined average weekly roll number .. .. .. 5,803 6,134 Combined average yearly attendance .. .. .. 5,036 5,277 The following table records the development of the Native village schools since the year 1881, when they were transferred to the control of the Education Department ; no account is taken of schools which, as the European clement has become • predominant in them, have been handed over to the various Education Boards : —

Native Village Schools. —Number, Attendance, and Teachers.

In addition to the Maori children in attendance at the schools specially instituted for Natives there were 5,086 Natives attending 568 different public schools at the end of 1920, the number exceeding the Maori pupils attending Native village schools. The 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 in E.-3, 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 1920, including pupils of Native village schools, mission schools, and public schools, was 10,134. Classification of Pupils. Table H6 and H7 in E.-3 show in detail the classification of pupils on the rolls of the Native schools. As will be seen, 83-8 per cent, of the pupils were Maoris speaking Maori in their homes, 3 per cent, were Maoris speaking English in their homes, and 13-2 per cent, were Europeans. The average age of the Native pupils in the various classes is higher than in public schools, although not more so than the peculiar condition and habits of life of the Native would account for. The proportion of pupils in the lower classes is also greater than in the case of public schools, not so many children remaining at school to pa,ss the upper standards. Compared with the Maoris in attendance at public schools, however, the pupils of Native schools are younger in their classes and much more successful in reaching the higher standards. The following table shows in summary form the classification of pupils in Native schools, the percentages of pupils in the various classes in public schools

4—E. 1.

Number of Teachers. Number of Schools at End of Year. Average AttendYear. Mean of Average Weekly Roll. Average Attendance: Whole Year. ance as Percentage of Weekly Roll. Teachers in Charge. Assistant Teachers. Male. Female. Male. Female. 1881 1886 1891 1896 1902 1907 1912 1917 1919 1920 60 69 66 74 98 99 108 118 119 119 2,343 2,395 2,874 3,650 4,321 4.644 5,191 5,190 5,416 1,406 2,020 1,837 ' 2,220 3,005 3,561 4,042 4.507 4,485 4,639 86-2 76-7 77-3 82-3 82-4 87-0 86-8 86-4 85-7 U 60 59 04 77 82 86 71 73 73 6 9 8 11 20 18 22 45 44 46 1 2 4 9 7 9 4 26 26 61 83 105 122 122 115 125