E.—2

8

Registered Primary Private Schools. (Table Dl.) The number of primary private schools (excluding private schools for Natives referred to elsewhere) registered under the Education Act, 1914, and returning statistics at the end of the year was 221 in 1920, as compared with 212 in 1919. The schools are inspected by the Department's Inspectors and the pupils examined for the Sβ proficiency and competency certificates ; in this way it is ensured that children not attending public schools, wherein the State is willing to provide for them, are receiving adequate instruction elsewhere. There are still a certain number of unregistered private schools, and although there is at present no legal authority to prevent the holding of such schools, nevertheless the children in attendance are not complying with the requirements of the Education Act to attend some registered school, and their parents are liable to a penalty. The following are statistics relative to registered primary private schools :— Number of schools .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 221 Roll number at end of year —Boys .. .. .. .. 9,935 Girls .. .. .. .. 12,258 22,193 Average attendance .. .. .. .. .. ~ 19,162 Children under seven years of age .. .. .. .. .. 3,863 Children from seven to eleven years of age .. . . .. .. 9,599 Children from eleven to thirteen years of age . . .. .. . . 4,882 Children from thirteen to fifteen years of age .. .. .. .. 3,159 Children over fifteen years of age .. .. .. .. .. 690 Number of teachers —Males .. .. .. .. .. 66 Females .. .. .. .. 642 708 Average number of pupils per teacher .. .. .. .. 27 Table Dl gives particulars of the schools in the various districts. A list of registered private schools as published annually in the New Zealand Gazette. Conveyance and Board of Scholars. Free passes on the railway to the nearest public or private school are granted to children living near to the railway-line but out of reach of a primary school, and the same privilege is enjoyed by pupils having to travel to attend secondary schools, district high schools, and technical high schools, and also by free-place holders travelling to attend technical schools or classes othan than technical high schools. Education Boards are also authorized to make provision when necessary for the conveyance of pupils to primary schools by road or water and to contribute towards the payment for board of children compelled to live away from home in order to attend school. The following are the rates payable by the Department under the various headings : — (a.) Sixpence per return trip for each child over five years of age: Provided that the home is not less than three miles from the school in the case of a child ten years of age or over, and not less than two miles in the case of a child under ten years. (b.) Sixpence per return trip for each child over five years of age conveyed by ferry, (c.) Eightpence per return trip for each child where the distance to be conveyed exceeds five miles. (d.) Two-thirds of the recognized rates in the case of a child using a horse or pony where the roads for wheel traffic are non-existent or are such as to be dangerous or impassible for vehicles. ((?.) Five shillings a week for the board for each child over five years of age who has to live away from home in order to attend a public school. (/.) Half the amount expended by the Board on the conveyance and board of all children over five years of age in excess of the allowances received under (a), (b), (c), (d), and (c).