E.—l

Koll Number. (Tables Bl and B2 in E.-2.) The number of children attending public schools in 1922, as shown by the average weekly roll number, was 209,251, the roll number at the end of the year being 213,097. The following are comparative figures for the last two years : —

The yearly increase in the average weekly roll was 6,307, or 3-1 per cent. An increase has taken place in the number of pupils in all classes excepting the preparatory classes, where the numbers were actually smaller than in the preceding year. It is also observed that the large city schools account for the greater part of the increase, the schools of most of the smaller grades having fewer pupils in the aggregate than in 1921. A comparison between the school population of the North and South Islands shows an annual increase of 3-9 per cent, in the North Island and of 1-8 per cent, in the South Island. During the last ten years the number of children attending public schools has increased by 27 per cent., the population of the Dominion having increased by 20 per cent, in a corresponding period. The table below shows the average roll number for every fifth year from 1878 to .1918, and for each of the last four years; the table gives also the average attendance for each year, the average attendance as a percentage of the roll, 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 is necessary to include public schools (exclusive of secondary departments of district high schools), Native schools, registered private primary schools, and the lower departments of secondary schools. The figures are as follows :-- Average Weekly Roll Number. Public schools (less secondary departments of district 1921. 1922. high schools) .. .. .. .. .. 200,311 206,348 Native village and Native mission schools .. .. 5,986 6,468 Registered private primary schools .. .. .. 23,924* 24,861* Lower departments of secondary schools .. .. 774* 590* Total average weekly roll of primary scholars .. 230,995 238,267 * Number on roll at end of year.

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Mean of Average Weekly Roll. Roll Number at End of Year. Including Second- Excluding Secondary Departments ary Departments of District High of District High Schools. Schools. Including Second- Exoluding Secondary Departments ary Departments of District High of District High Schools. Schools. Year 1922 Year 1921 209,251 206,348 202,944 200,311 213,097 207,357 210,491 205,18] Increase in 1922 6,307 6,037 6,037 5,740 5,310 Percentage increase . . 3-1 3-0 3-0 2-8 2-6

Average Number Average Average Attendauce Year. of Weekly Atteudanco, as PercentSchools. Roll. Whole Year. age of Weekly Roll. I Number of 1 Adults. reachers. Pupil-teach. ers. M. F. Total. | M. P. Total. 1878 .. .. .. 748 .. 48,773* 1883.. .. .. 971 90,859 69,838 76 9 1888.. .. .. 1,158 113,636 90,1.08+ 79'3 1893.. .. .. 1,375 125,692 109.3211 798 1898.. .. .. 1,655 133,782 111.636 83'4 1903.. .. .. 1,786 134,748 113,047 83'9 1908.. .. .. 1,998 145,974 127,160 87'1 1913.. .. .. 2,255 169,530 151,242 89'2 1918.. .. .. 2,365 191,382 169,836 88'7 1919.. .. ,. 2,400 193,655 174,885 903 1920.. .. 2,437 196,731 171,102 87'0 1921.. .'. .. 2,498 202,944 182,306 89'8 1922.. .-. .. 2,550 209,251 190,012 90'S 748 971 1,158 1,375 1,655 1,786 1,998 2,255 2,365 2,400 2,437 2,498 2,550 90,859 113,636 125,692 133,782 134,748 145,974 169,530 191,382 193,655 196,731 202,944 209,251 48,773* 69,838 90,1.08+ 109.3211 111,636 113,047 127,160 1.51,242 169,836 174,885 171,102 182,306 190,012 707 905 1,039 1.107 1,234 1,270 1.331 1,603 1.306 1,606 1,075 1,772 1,842 454 1,161 656 1,561 887 1,926 1,096 2,203 1,370 2,604 1,726 2,996 2,021 3,352 2,659 4,262 3,452 4,818 3,394 5.000 3,500 5,175 3,488 5,260 3,623 5,465 118 332 159 571 219 094 238 825 229 831 147 552 161 476 142 474 123 523 123 503 114 466 141 415 •182 405 332 571 694 825 831 552 476 474 523 503 466 415 405 450 730 913 1,063 1,060 699 637 616§ 646§ 626§ 580!j 550§ 587§ * Average of three quarters. f Strict average. I Working a I Strict average. I Working a' 'orage. § Kxoli isivo of irobatio: i ers.