E.—2

10

Table D.—Classification of Pupils at Public Schools, December, 1911.

More detailed information in regard to the classification of pupils can be obtained on reference to Table B appearing on page 4. A study of this Table shows how much quicker girls pass through the standards than do boys. It will also be noticed that a larger proportion of girls than boys ramain in Standard VII. The following is a summary of the examination statistics for 1911: — Total roll at time of annual examination ... ... ... 162,536 Present at examination ... ... ... ... ... 155,244 Present in preparatory classes ... ... ... ... 56,770 Present in classes S6 ... ... ... ... ... 9,742 Present in classes S7 ... ... ... ... ... 1,757 Standard VI certificates gained, viz.,— Certificates of proficiency ... ... ... 7,212} „ „ 9f , „ competency ... ... ... 1,808) Details of these figures for each district are given in Table D 2. Average Age. —The average ages of the pupils in the several classes for the two years 1910-11 were as follows :— 1910. 1911. Yrs. inos. Yrs. mos. Preparatory classes ... ... ... ... 7 0 7 1 Class SI ... ... ... ... ... ... 9 2 9 1 ~ S2 ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 2 10 2 ~ S3 ... ... ... ... ... ... 11 3 11 3 „ S4 ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 3 12 2 „ S5 ... ... ... ... ... ... 13 1 13 2 „ S6 ... ... ... ... ... ... 14 0 13 11 ~ S7 ... ... ... ... ... ... 15 0 15 0 Mean of average ages ... ... ... ... 9 10 9 9 Details for the several districts will be found in Table D 3. The Inspector-General of Schools has felt it his duty once more to bring under notice (see page 24) the gradual increase in the proportion of children in preparatory classes. During the year he has obtained fuller information on the subject, and has accordingly been enabled to define the position more accurately. He points out that, while the percentages of children on the school roll from 5 to 8 years of age have increased in the years 1905-11 from 29-8 to 31-4 the percentage on the roll of the preparatory classes has risen from 28-3 to 37-3, an increase of 9 per cent., as against I*6. The following figures show how much more rapidly the number of pupils in preparatory classes has increased than those of five to eight years of age : — Roll. Children 5 to 8 Children in Years of Age. Preparatory Classes. 1905 ... ... ... ... ... ... 39,781 36,823 1911... ... ... ... .. ... 50,742 60,300 Increase ... ... ... ... ... 10,961 23,477 Several Boards consider that this exceptional increase is not an occasion for alarm or anxiety, as comparatively few pupils proceed to the secondary schools, and the long wait in the preparatory classes compels the average pupil to spend longer at school before reaching the standard of exemption. There can be no doubt, however, that from the point of view of the community at large no benefit can accrue by keeping back pupils capable of more advanced work.

Classes. Boys. Girls. Total. 'ercenta; ;es for Five Years. Class P .. . SI .. „ 82.. „ S3 .. . S4 .. „ So .. . S6 .. „ S7 .. 32,034 10,334 9,895 9,715 8,899 7,344 5,223 1,118 28,266 9,610 9,340 9,019 8,044 6,756 4,809 1,242 60,300 19,944 19,235 18,734 16,943 14,100 10,032 2,360 1907. 31-11 12-05 12-10 12-04 11-46 10-21 7-79 3-21 1908. 34-27 11-96 11-61 11-98 11-20 9-65 6-87 2-46 1909. 36-66 12-25 11-82 11-34 10-78 9-08 0-56 1-51 1910. 37-15 12-17 11-94 11-44 10-39 9-10 6-16 1-65 1911. 37-30 12-34 11-90 11-59 10-48 8-72 6-21 1-46 Totals.. 84,562 77,086 161,648 100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00