E.—lβ

1893. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: REPORTS OF INSPECTORS OF SCHOOLS. [In Continuation of E.-1b, 1892.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency. AUCKLAND. Sir, — Auckland, 28th January, 1893. We have the honour to present our report for the year 1892. Two hundred and eighty-two schools were examined in standards, and two hundred and sixtyfour were inspected. Eight schools were not examined during the year. Of these, seven are new schools, and the remaining one was closed in August. Twenty-six schools were not inspected during the year. Seven of these are taught half-time by teachers whose work was inspected in other schools; nine were not open when the Inspector was in the neighbourhood; the remaining ten were not inspected on account of the pressure of other work and the illness of two of the Inspectors. The percentage of passes in standards is 51-1; the percentage of failures is 14-5. These figures compare very favourably with those of the previous year, which were 479 and 175 respectively. Of the 282 schools examined, twenty-nine, or about 10 per cent., were reported on unfavourably. In about one-third of these cases the unsatisfactory condition of the school may be considered to bo due to change of teachers or temporary closing of the school during the year. The average ages of passing Standards I. and 11. are higher than those of 1891. This may fairly be accounted for by considering the number of new schools opened in districts in which many of the children have grown up without any opportunity of attending school. In the other standards the average ages differ very slightly from those of 1891. The mean of average age remains the same.

Summary of Results for the Whole District.

* Mean of average ages. There were presented in preparatory classes 1,702 children more than eight years old. We do not consider this number excessive, and we have had no grounds of dissatisfaction with the reasons assigned for not presenting these children in Standard I. Irregular attendance and short time at school form by far the greater proportion of these reasons. There arc also attending the schools in this education district many Maori and half-caste children, whose imperfect acquaintance with our language has retarded their progress, and who have consequently augmented the above number. In expressing our opinion on the condition of any school, we have not been guided solely by the percentages obtained at the examination. Two schools showing similar numerical results may be really in very different states of efficiency. In the one case those who pass do so with ease, and those who fail come very near to passing; in the other case those who pass are barely able to do so, and those who fail do so seriously. I—E. Iβ.

Classes. Presented. Absent. Excopted. Failed. Passed. Average Ago of those that passed. Yrs. mos. Above Standard VI. Standard VI. V. „ IV. „ III. II. I. 125 921 1,757 2,810 3,284 3,136 3,557 8,025 38 78 119 153 117 116 37 79 153 195 140 128 144 372 549 493 266 221 702 1,228 1,989 2,443 2,613 3,092 14 4 13 6 12 6 11 5 10 4 9 1 Preparatory... Totals 23,615 621 732 2,045 12,067 11 10*