E.—lβ

1899. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: REPORTS OF INSPECTORS OF SCHOOLS. [In continuation of E.-1b, 1898.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

AUCKLAND. Sir, — Education Office, Auckland, Bth March, 1899. I have the honour to submit the usual report for the year 1898. At the close of the year there, were 369 public schools in operation in the Auckland District, being ten more than at the close of last year. Of this number 359 were examined. The remaining ten were opened after the examination of the neighbouring schools was completed. Three hundred and thirty-two schools were inspected, including fifteen half-time schools, of which only one of the group was visited for this purpose. On being visited five schools were found closed owing to special holidays or bad weather. One school (Oruru) was temporarily closed when the Inspector was in the district. The remaining thirty-one schools were not inspected, as the work could not be overtaken by the staff. Among the schools not inspected were two of the largest schools in the city, which were both closed when one of the Inspectors was free to visit them. Fifteen new schools have been opened during the year, and five old ones were closed, giving a net increase of ten. Only four of the new schools are situated in the goldfields area. The following table shows in summary the chief examination results for the year : —

Table I.

These figures show for the year an increase of ninety-nine in the number of pupils presented, of 217 in the number of pupils who were present, and of 519 in the number of pupils that passed in one or other of the standards. Approximately, 86 per cent, of the pupils examined in standards passed—a result in every way satisfactory. In Standards IV. and VI. there has been a very considerable advance in the percentage of passes ; but the percentage of passes in Standards IV. and V., 76 and 78 respectively,' remains somewhat below the level which I think we should reach. A considerable advance in the percentage of passes in Standard V. was recorded last year, and the improvement has been not only maintained, but slightly increased. The average age at which Standards IV.", V., and VI. have been passed remains unchanged ; in each of the lower standards it has decreased by one month.

* Mean of average age.

I—E. 18.

Classes. Presented. Examined in Standards. Passed. Average Age of those that passed. Yrs. mos. ibove Standard VI. Standard VI. „ V. IV. „ III. II. I>reparatory 381 1,631 2,502 3,767 3,737 3,504 3,362 9,241 1,592 2,403 3,615 3,602 3,387 3,275 1,382 1,868 2,758 2,955 3,159 3,187 14 2 13 2 12 5 11 2 10 1 8 11 Totals 28,125 17,874 15,309 11 8* (nearly).