E.—l.

It is impossible to state with any degree of accuracy the costs per pupil in any branch of education, except in the primary schools, because the technical schools and combined secondary and technical schools, besides providing instruction for full-time day pupils, also provide instruction for part-time pupils. These pupils take subjects for varying periods in the day and evening, and in most cases are taught by instructors who are also engaged in teaching full-time pupils during the day. From the statement of expenditure and recoveries the following is the cost per pupil based on average attendance at public schools, at the junior high schools under the Auckland Board, at the public schools in the Chatham Islands, and at the Department's Correspondence School (primary department) : Primary—including buildings, £9 7s. 10d.'; excluding buildings, £9 4s. 6d. The cost per child for elementary education in England and Wales for the year 1931-1932 was £12 12s. sd* « 4. SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND SITES. During last year the net capital expenditure on the erection of school buildings was £52,623, as against £259,148 for the previous year. Owing to the limited funds available, it was not possible, therefore, to consider favourably all of the proposals that were submitted. Preference was given to those cases where no school accommodation existed or the existing buildings were totally inadequate for the numbers attending. In order to reduce further the expenditure of capital funds, an item was provided on the Consolidated Fund estimates to meet the cost of works costing under £200. These works included small additions and alterations, the total expenditure for the year being £4,505. During the year no large schools were destroyed by fire. A number of smaller buildings, however, were destroyed, and the sum of £6,447 was expended on replacement. Of this, £6,394 has been provided by the Government Fire Insurance Fund. The following table shows the expenditure out of the Public Works Fund on new buildings, additions, sites, and teachers' residences for the years ended 31st March, 1931, 1932, and 1933 1930-31. 1931-32. 1932-33. £ £ £ Public schools .. .. .. 203,292 126,778 33,631 Secondary schools .. .. 128,594 65,030 21,754 Technical schools .. .. 78,318 44,507 3,584 Training colleges.. .. .. 9,080 1,228 Universities .. .. . . 241 Native schools .. .. .. 8,922 14,433 704 Schools for mentally backward .. 5.110 199 Child-welfare institutions . . .. 1,660 714 Kindergartens .. .. .. 1,747 54 Massey Agricultural College . . 68,825 9,622 Canterbury Agricultural College .. 109 Gross total .. .. 505,898 262,565 59,673 Less credits-in-aid .. 4,554 3,417 7,050 £501,344 £259,148 £52,623

* This, however, includes school medical services, provision of meals for undernourished children, evening play centres, and nursery schools (somewhat similar to New Zealand kindergartens).

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