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KINDERGARTEN SCHOOLS. While the Department does not undertake the establishment of kindergarten schools, it has for some years past rendered financial assistance by way of subsidy and capitation to kindergarten schools conducted by recognized kindergarten associations. To obtain recognition by the Department an association must satisfy the Department that its business is not conducted for private profit, that the school in respect to which the payment of grants is desired is necessary in the locality in which it is situated, that the building and equipment are suitable, that the teaching staff is adequate and the instruction efficient. No fees shall be payable by pupils attending a recognized kindergarten school. Capitation payable is limited to £4 for each pupil in average attendance, and £l ss. for every £l raised by voluntary contributions and expended on the maintenance of the schools during any year. In addition, subsidies not exceeding £1 for £l may be paid on voluntary contributions raised by an association and expended on buildings, sites, and equipment approved by the Minister of Education. During 1929 seven associations were recognized by the Department, and a sum of £5,064 was paid as capitation and £1,1.07 as building subsidy. The number of pupils in attendance at schools conducted in 1929 by the recognized associations, and the average attendance of such pupils, were as follows : — . ... Pupils on Roll Average Attendance, Association. at End rf lg2g _ lg29 _ Auckland.. .. .. 464 303 Hastings .. .. . . 40 29 Hutt Valley . . . . 78 63 Wellington .. .. 346 262 Christchurch . . .. 366 253 Dunedin .. .. .. ..320 251 Invercargill .. .. .. 118 92 1,732 1,253 PRIMARY EDUCATION. Number of Public Schools. The number of public schools open at the end of 1929 was 2,597, one less than in the previous year. In the following table the schools are classified according to their grade, and the yearly average attendance and the number of children per teacher are shown.

Total Average Average Number of Schools.* Number of Xnge l o! C Ave°Llf Department. Secondary Department. Totals. Attendance. -j ; Teacher in In each In each In each In each In each In each In each In each Subgrade.l Grade. Subgrade.' Grade. Subgrade. Grade. Subgrade. Grade. * + I I I I 1 0 (1-8) .. I 234 I 234 1,380 1,380 .. .. 1,380] 1,380 6 1 (9-20) .. 790 790 11,248 11,248 .. .. 11,248 11,248 14 TI (21-35) .. 513 513 13,602 13,602 .. .. 13,602 13,602 24 IIIa (36-50) .. 305 1 f 13,138 1 f .. f 13,138 ~) f 22 IIIB (51-80) .. 246 > 692-< 15,167 J- 41,927-! 52 y 174<! 15,219 y 42,101 <( 30 IIIo (81-120) .. 141 j I 13.622 j L 122 J I 13,744 J L 31 IVa (121-160) .. 69 1 f 9,516 1 f 299 1 f 9,815 ) IVB (161-200) .. 30 y 134<( 5,307 y 22,562<! 331 1, 5,638 J- 23,834 34 IVo (201-240) .. 35 J I 7,739 j I 642 J I 8,381 J Va (241-280) .. 33 1 f 8,726 1 f 634 ] f 9,360 1 Vb (281-320) .. 14 y 81 -< 4,278 y 24,312<| 96 4,374 25,409 40 Vc (321-360) .. 34 j \ 11,308 J L 367 J I 11,675 J VIA (361-400) .. 25 } f 9,475 "} f 580 ] f 10,055 1 VIb (401-440) .. 16 }■ 6H 6,765 y 25,361 <! 292 >-1, 7,057 y 26,366 43 VIo (441-480) .. 20 j [ 9,121 J I 133 J I 9,254 J VIIa (481-520) .. 16 1 f 8,061 1 f 93 1 f 8,154 VIIB (521-560) .. 15 8,012 .. 8,012 VIIc (561-600) .. 19 10,884 102 10,986 VIId (601-640) .. 14 8,544 271 8,815 VIIe (641-680) .. 10 6,607 .. 6,607 VIlF (681-720) .. 10 L no J 6,760 L 54 o 07 J •• I 46fi J 6,760 I „ 4 „ Vila (721-760) .. 4 f 2,940 f 54 " ,b7 T .. f 4b0 2,940 f 4d VIIh (761-800) .. 2 1,546 .. 1,546 VIIx (801-840) ..1 767 .. 767 VITj (841-880) ..1 846 .. 846 VIIk (881-920) ..... j VIIl (921-960) .. .. L - - jJ I •• ' y I •• Totals, 1929 .. I 2,597 2,597 195,359 I 195,359 4,014 4,014 199,373; 199,373 31 Totals, 1928 .. j 2,598 2,598 195,411] 195,411 3,726 3,726 199,137, 199,137 32 Difference ..I -1 j -1 -52 J -52 .+288 j +288 +236 | +236 -1 * Half-time, main, and side schools are counted as separate schools. fThe average attendance shown under this heading is the average attendance for the year ended 31st August, 1929, computed and adjusted in accordance with the regulations governing the staffing of schools. The unadjusted total average attendance for the year ended 31st December, 1929, was—primary departments, 193,978; and secondary departments, 4,054. X Head teachers are counted as class-teachers up to and including Grade V schools that are not district high schools.