The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1904. EDUCATION REPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 203, 31 August 1904, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1904. EDUCATION REPORT.

The report of tiie Education Department shows that tJhe average attendance during the year at all the schools throughout the colony, wnieh in 1902 reached the highest figure since tho institution of a colonial education system under the Education Act of 1877 last year showed a falling oil of 661. The numbers were in 11)03, 113,047, and in 1902, 113,711. It was noted in last year's report that in 1901 ar»u 1902 one quarter's attendance had shown a considerable decline as compared with that of the other three, and in 1901 it was the third quar-ter-Tot the year, and in 1902 the last quarter. The causes which led to the decline in 1902 appear to have been still operating in the first quarter of 1903, as although there was then an increase in the actual number in average attendance it was hardly more than proportional to the inert*.* in the average weekly roll number. The culminution was reached in the second quarter, when ]| spite of a further increase over the corresponding figures for the British Isles and for the several states of the Australian Commonwealth, viz., England 83.0, Scotland 82.9, Ireland 35,. -New South Wales 72.(j, Victoria 66.0, Queensland 81.3, South Australia 81.6, Tasmania 74.4, In average attendance the North Island shows an increase over 1902, and Jie South a decrease under that /ear. .As regards the regularity of school attendance in several parts of the colony, there has been a falling oil in nil the districts except Auckland and Wellington. North Canterbury with 82.1 per cent, of the average ro'l ds the lowest. Otago, which stood at the head of the list in 1901 and 1902, has still maintained its position, although with the diminished percentage of 80.8. Southlaud with 85.0 per cent, has ousted Westland from second place, and

South Canterbury still retains third place with 8-1.9 per cent. The Souvh Island shows a greater degree of regularity of attendance than the North Island; the respective rates being 84.3 per cent and 83.5 per cent, respectively. The proportion O'f the number thai passed in standards to the number present at tba in-ipector'B annual examination was 85.4 per cent, in 1902, and the corresponding'figures were 94.2 per cent. As to the number of pupils receiving instruction in each subject of the syllabus, the most noticeable features are the large increase in the numbers learning hand work, singing and drill ; and the failing off in those learning grammar and elementary science. Tho number of public schools open at the end of 1903 was 1741, or 33 more than in 1902 ; 3695 teachers were employed in 1903 against 2649 in 1902. The average number of children to ono teacher for 1903 was 30.6. Out of the total 'number (2996) of adult teachers employed, 2450 were holders of certificates. At the close of tie year X 903, five out of t&o thirteen boards had deficits on their general account amounting to £4697, against £O2l by seven boards in the previous year, Eight boards have balances amounting to £6775, as against six boards, whose accounts were in credit in 1902 with a total balance of £6840. With regard to the training of teachers the two existing colleges at Christchurch and Dunodin have been re-organised in accordance with last year's proposals. Arrangements are now under consideration for tho establishment of the two other colleges recommended, so tliat be/ore long it may ilie hoped that the provision for tie training of our future teachers may bo regarded as fairly complete. During the year 109,000 children have received instruction in drill, and there were on June 30th 210 cadet corps, with a strength of 10,850 members, equipped with model rifles. In addition to the village schools, there. are four mission schools, and live boarding or secondary schools that are examined and inspected by the department. These bring tho total number of native schools to 110. The steady advance in manual und technical instruction, noticeable since tho passing of the .Manual and Technical Instruction Act I.n I'JOO, was well maintained during 1903. At the close of 1902 the number of classes recognised under the Act was 980. During 1903 1247 additional classes were re-cog-nised, making the number at the end of the year 2227. Of these classes 1.659 were classes for handwork in connection with the primary and secondary schools, while 868 wen. "s.pecial,'' "associated,'' or "college" classes providing for instruction in the various brandus of pun and applied art engineering and science ; and in plumbing, carpentry . and joini'ry, domestic economy, am (jommercinl subjects. Tho number o secondary schools giving free tuition to all qualified pupils at tin md of the first term of 15102 was 20, and the number of pupils holding l fret ' places was 1605. TVre were beside: r about 206 holders of scholarship: and exhibitions given by tho board; of education, or by the four second ary schools, not coming under thi conditions, and further, there wen ■ 1709 pupils receiving secondary edu :ation in the secondary classes o the District High .Schools, whlcl numbered "49.' On the whole, there fore, the education system of th colony, as lately developed, affoid at the present, time secondary educn tion for some 3523 children from th primary schools. At tho end of th year 1901 tho number was about 903