The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1889.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2672, 27 August 1889, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1889.

The twelfth annual report of the Minister of Education, presented to His Excellency the Governor, and laid on the table of the House of representatives, contains particulars of the greatest interest to the people of New Zealand. We submit a few of the principal items of information. The average attendance of pupils during the year ISBS was 90,108. Since 1387 the method was introduced of judging by the strict average instead of the working average. The strict average for 1887, therefore, was 8.5,037, showing an increase, by comparison, of '1,-171 for ISSB. Since 1877, the strict average has risen from 45,521 fo 5)0,1 OS, At the beginning of 18S8 the number of pupils on the rolls of the schools in the colony was 103,5:3-1, and at the end of the year the number was 112,085. The increase since 1877 was 50,997. The Secretary of the Department, Dr Hislop, who compiles the report, says that there has | been a marked improvement in regularity of attendance. In ISS7 every pupil on an average attended seventy-seven times out of every hundred times that the school was open. In 1888 the average was 79*3. During 1888 ■18,087 pupils were admitted to the public schools, and 30,;>30 left school. In point of members the Auckland district ranks second, the total number of pupils at the end of the year in Otago was 22,420, in Auckland 21,013. North Canterbury coming third with 20,388. The old proportion of 51.8 boys to 48.2 girls continues with perfect constancy. There is

a decrease in the proportion of chil-' (Iron under seven and ten years of' age, with an increase of those over ten years. The numbers between five and under seven years are 20,058 ; between seven and under ten years, 41,1 1 ) 1-1 ; between ten and under thirteen years, -'7,21<> ; between thirteen and fifteen, 11,903, and over fifteen years 2,107. The proportion, I-2 - 13 per contof children, who have not passed Standard I, continues very high, but 's declining. There were 1,0.30 Maoris, half-castes and other children of mixed races attending public schools. As compared with last year, 4<'ls, instead of -1:-t*0 per cent of the whole school roll passed the examinations; 1T"-3 instead of 20"8 per cent of those who ought to have passed failed to do so. The number of schools has increased during the year from 1,093 to 1,128. The increase, Dr. Ilislop says, is not quite in proportion to the increase of scholars. In the Auckland district there are 229 schools open, and the average attendance during the fourth quarter of last year was 17,G or a mean average for one school of 77-0. The number of teachers has been reduced from 2,5G3 to 2,8:39. The gross amount of teachers' salaries was .-£277,754, or £10,000 less than for the corresponding period (December) of ISB7. The number of certificated teachers holding appointments at the end of the year was 1,511. There are about 750 holders of certificates not at present engaged in public instruction, of whom nearly 400 are women. The total expenditure of the Boards of Education was £425,203, of which .£304,050 was obtained from the public exchequer.