ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1423, 6 July 1883, Page 2

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION.

The sixth annual report of the Minister of Education wis laid on the table of the House of Repreaeutatives yesterday. Total average daily attendance of scholars at the public schools during'the ending 41st December, 1882, was 35,909 males, and 32,319 females, together 66,145, showing a,i increase of 2410 on die previous year. The average yearly increase during the last 5 years was 5061. The mean percentage of attendance as compared with enrolments was 76.4, which, curiously enough, exactly corresponded to a decimal with the proportion of the previous year. The number on the rolls at the end of 1832 was 87,179. The number of Maoris and children of mixed races attending public schools last year was 314 boys, and 236 girls, together 553, This showed a falling off of 79 as compared with the previous year. The subjects of instruction in the public schools throughout the colony were:—Reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammer and composition, geography, history, elementary science, drawing, object lessons, vocal music, needlework (girls), and domestic ecomony. The total number of teachers in 1882 was 2143, as compared with 2086 in the previous year. The total receipts of the Education Boards throughout the colony durin« the year amounted to £364,688 2s Sd, as against £358,957 7s 4diu 1881. The average cost in current expenditure and school buildings per scholar whs £5 5s 3d, :is compared with £4 19s 9-Jd in the previous year, Of the total number of teachers, 14 received salaries of £4OO to £495 per annum, 37 from £3OO to £400,172 from £2OO to £3OO, 830 from £IOO to £2OO, and 1227 under £IOO. The expenditure on school buildings during the year was £71,852 4s 9d, as compared with LSS/254 12s 6d, but of the total number of scholars on the roll, 87,179,48,6 per cent, were presented for examination in standards, and of these, 72.3 per cent of the number presented passed. This percentage of passes showed a falling oil' as compared with Ihe previous year, the percentage of passes in 1881 having been 73.4. The mean average of the ages of the scholars at standard examinations was 11,5 years, The Inspectors in their reports call attention to the evils suiting from favoritism in the appointment of teachers, condemn the giving of school prizes, approve of increasing school libraries, object strongly to the excess of educational overwork at home, and mention great improvement among the girls in sewing, The report speaks generally in favorable terms of the Normal Schools, High Schools, and institutions for secondary instruction generally.—N.Z. Times.