A—3

.• .. M VIII. EDUCATION The work of this Department is in charge of an Education officer, seconded from New Zealand, assisted by 8 European teachers, also from New Zealand, and by 127 local teachers and trainees. There are twenty-four schools in the Group ; of these, eleven are Administration, seven are London Missionary Society, and six are Roman Catholic Mission schools. The Administration-assists education in the Northern Group by subsidizing the local Mission schools. The following table shows the schools in the Cook Islands, together with the numbers of pupils attending each during the past five yearg :

(b) London Missionary Society Schools

(c) Roman Catholic Mission Schools

The number of schools is the same as in previous years, but the school population increased by 179 over the total for 1945. Attendances have been regular and satisfactory throughout the year. Mr. A. McKenzie has been appointed, Education Officer in succession to Mr. R. Walker, who resigned early in 1946. A new European Head Teacher has 1 commenced duty at the Ngatangiia School, Rarotonga, and a new European Head Teacher and an Infant-mistress have been appointed to Mangaia.

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Roll Numbers. Island. School. 1942. 1943. 1944. 1945. 1946. {a) Government Schools Rarotonga Avarua (including European 9 QQ\ 390 415 432 437 502 tidioiS ) Arorangi Ngatangiia 258 273 280 281 269 225 209 216 205 230 Titikaveka .. • 187. 196 ■188 190 199 Aitutaki Araura 465 512 562 593 604 Atiu Atiu 220 216 204 198 221 Mangaia Oneroa 22 i 223 218 238 270 Ivirua 109 105 106 138 146 Tamarua 68 71 68 77 79 Mauke Mauke .. 157 161 172 189 177 Pukapuka Pukapuka 168 166 143 118 127. -Totals .. 2,468 2,547 2,589 2,664 2,824

Mitiaro Mitiaro 63 40 38 64 22 ManiMki Tukao 26 18 22 18 19 Tauhunu 65 54 52 44 45 Rakahanga Rakahanga 61 64 64 64 114 Penrhyn Omoka 75 89 . 89 122 115 Tetautua , 66 69 18 . 45 36 Palmerston Palmerston 34 34 21 17 20 Totals .. 390 368 304 374 371

Karotonera St. Joseph's Convent 153 162 169 165 165Atiu Atiu Catholic 52 61 58 59 71 Mauke Mauke Catholic 43 46 43 37 41 Manihiki .. Tukao Catholic '20 22 20 20 22 Tauhunu Catholic 16 9 8 8 8 Rakahanga Rakahanga Catholic 33 19 8 8 12 Totals .. 317 319 306 297 319 Grand totals 3,175 3,234 3,199 3,335 3,514