Education Report for the Year.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 48, 24 August 1895, Page 2

Education Report for the Year.

The Minister of Education laid on the table of the House last Thursday his annual report of the progress and condition of public education in New Zealand during the past year. Mr Reeves said the report would show that there had been a remarkable increase in the average attendance daring the year— no less an increase than 4875 as compared with the previous year, and 6279 compared with the last quarter. Members would see from this that liberal as the estimates for last year's education expenditure were, it had besn necessary this year to exceed that amount. The strict average attendance came out remarkably well, being no less than 80 - 6 per cent, an attendance never exceeded and only once before equalled in the Colony. The two years during which the capitation grant had been made upon the working instead of the strict average had proved most satisfactory, and the anticipations that it would cause a falling off in the strict average attendance had not been realised. A gratifying feature in connection with the European schools was the increase in the number of children above Standard 111. as compared to a falling off of those below that standard. This showed an increased tendency on the part of the parents to give their children the advantage of passing the higher standards. The percentage of passes this year was a record, being 519. The proportion of passes to pupils examined was 83*2. Now, in regard to the number of schools in the Colony and the building vote. The proportions of pupils to each school had become slightly smaller, which was due to the energy with which the boards pushed on the erectien of schools in the country districts. The number of schools open at the end of 1894 was 1410, as against 1885 in 189:5, 1054 in ISS6, and 794 in 1879. The average of pupils to each teacher last 3'ear was 32-1 ; the 3 T ear previous it was 406. The total number of teachers last year was 8306. Out of this number 1050 were pupil teachers, and of these it was a significant feature that 221 were boy.s 625 girls. Mr Reeves went on to comment on the gratifying fact that the number of unqualified teachers was gradually diminishing. As to the question of the building grant. Last year this was .£45,000. The increase in the number of schools in the older districts of the Colony was not great ; it was in the new country where settlement was progressing that the increase in the number of schools had chiefl\ r beeu. Out of the 13 boards eight had assets totalling £7025 above liabilities on building fund, wbile five showed a deficit on that fund of .£6595. During the year £7028 was for 297 scholarships,' the average value of which was £23. Mr Reeves briefly referred to the industrial schools of the Colony, iv connection with which there had been but little change^