E.—l

85

sent time. At the beginning of 1878 the new education district of Southland was created, and thirty-seven schools were handed over to the newly-formed Board: —

The above table shows that there was a decrease for the year of 105 pupils on the average attendance of the previous year, that twenty-seven fewer pupils attended at all during the year, and that there were 638 fewer in attendance at the close of the year. Inspection.—At the end of 1895 there remained unexamined forty schools. These were examined early in 1896, and again at the end of the same year. The second examination was held to bring the schools into their old places in the order of examination. With the addition made to their staff the Inspectors have been able to wipe out most of the arrears of 1895, and to get the work of inspection fairly into line again. 22,380 children were presented for examination—ls,oo3 in the standard classes, 6,792 in the preparatory classes, and 585 in the class above Standard VI. 89 per cent, of those examined in the standard classes gained the standard pass, a very satisfactory result from this point of view of efficiency. In the opinion of the Inspectors, our school work is, on the whole, good. The following table shows the proportions of children presented for examination in the several classes during the last three years. The proportions are expressed in percentages:— 1894. 1895. 1896. Preparatory ... ... ... ... ... 3171 31-10 30-35 Standard I. ... ... ... ... ... 12-30 1167 11-61 Standard 11. ... ... .. ... ... 13-34 12-80 12-37 Standard 111. ... ... ... ... ... 13-59 13-71 13-23 Standardly. ... ... .. ... ... 12-05 12-68 13-16 Standard V. ... ... ... ... ... 9-03 9-33 9-91 Standard VI. ... ... ... ... ... 5-79 6-06 6-75 Above Standard VI. ... ... ... ... 2-18 2-62 2-60 This table shows clearly the point at which the children begin to leave school, and also what proportion of those who pass into Standard I. reach the level of the three senior classes. ScHOLABSHirs. —Twenty-four scholarships (twelve junior and twelve senior) were awarded at the December examination. In all, 143 candidates competed, forty-eight for the senior and ninetyfive for the junior scholarships. In addition to the scholarships awarded, seventeen of the junior competitors and eighteen of the senior competitors gained sufficient marks to qualify them for free education at the Otago Boys' and Girls' High Schools for two years and three years respectively. The amount expended on scholarships for the year was —Paid to scholarship holders, £1,425 10s.; examination expenses, £66 lls.: total, £1,492 Is. There are at present forty-six pupils receiving free education at the high schools in Dunedin in connection with the scholarship scheme. School of Art and Design.—The report of the Principal is given in Appendix I,* The total number of students who attended the school during the past session was 394, an increase of thirty-four compared with the preceding year. This total includes 116 teachers and pupil-teachers, twenty-two training-college students, ninety-six students who attended the day classes, and 160 who attended the evening classes. During the year Signor Nerli, the teacher of painting, severed his connection with the school, and it has been decided to discontinue the teaching of painting. The cost of the school for the year was—Salaries, £845 ; incidental expenses, £115 3s. 4d. : total, £960 3s. 4d, less fees £373—£587 3s. 4d. Training College.—The report of the Principal of the training college is appended. The attendance of students during the year was :— Students in course of 1896 — M. P. Total. I Left during 1896— M. P. Total. Remaining from 1895 ... 8 7 15 Teaching in public schools 4 1 5 Admitted during 1896 ... 7 15 22 Left the service ... ... 1 0 1 Left during 1896 ... ... 4 1 5 On the books, December, 1896 8 21 29 The cost of the institution for the year was—Salaries, £490; allowances to students, £362 18s. 4d.; incidentals, £16 18s. lid.: total, £869 17s. 3d. Tkuancy.—The enforcement of the compulsory clauses of the Education Act is, despite the efforts of the Board's truancy officer, very far from satisfactory, and there is good reason for stating

• Printed in 8.-lc.

12— E. 1.

GO 1 □ DO o H a) g |Zi e 9 Number of Pupils who attended at all in the Course of the Year. Average Daily Attendance for the Year. Attendan at the Close Year. ice of the Year. O s -a a 0 •5 s I o Si to i a I OJ CO S3 u •3 I M ■ a) cq ■S'o 5^ I 1856-57 ... 1867 1877 1887 1895 1896 5 56 173 183 214 218 7 ... 851,216 3563,191 5116,136 550 5,328 554 5,351 3,151 4,367 16,42219,613 22,742 : 28,878 22,588127,916 22,538:27,889 115 897 2,176 4,148 3,759 3,735 121 236 2,045 2,942 9,57311,749; 15,11019,258 15,84819,607! 15,76719,502: I I 919 2,436 [2,58511,943 j4,64818,032 ! 14,21718,5121 14,08518,006 I I 3,355 14,528 ! 22,680 122,729 22,091