E.—2

8

district, and the small percentage in this case is, to some extent, accounted for by the fact that the district is one of the smallest, with a very large proportion of soleteacher schools and of uncertificated teachers. The percentages of certificates granted for the whole Dominion in 1915 were—Proficiency, 70 per cent. ; competency, 18 per cent. Registered Private Primary Schools. (Class D.-l.) The inspection of private schools with reference to their registration under the Education Act, 1914, has been carried out, and the list of registered schools will (at time of writing) be issued shortly. The figures given below apply to primary schools which will probably be included in the number of registered primary schools. Total number of sohools .. .. .. .. .. .. 176 Total roll number at end of year—Boys .. .. ..7,415 Girls .. .. .. 8,866 — 16,281 Average attendance .. .. .. .. .. .. 14,366 Number of full-time teachers ~ .. .. .. .. 567 Average number of pupils per teacher .. .. .. .. 25-3 Number of S6 pupils presented for examination .. .. .. 1,016 Number of proficiency certificates issued .. .. .. .. 684 Number of competency certificates issued .. .. .. .. 170 Conveyance oe Scholars. Free passes on the railway to the nearest public or private school are granted to children living near to the railway-line but out of reach of a primary school; and the same privilege is enjoyed by pupils having to travel to attend secondary schools, district high schools, and technical high schools, and also by free-place holders travelling to attend technical schools or classes other than technical high schools. The amounts paid on this account for railway fares in the years 1914-15 and 1915-16 were as follow :— 1914-15. 1915-16. £ £ Primary pupils .. ~ .. .. ~ 9,663 10,124 Pupils attending— (a.) Secondary schools .. .. .. .. 3,285 3,297 (6.) District high schools .. .. .. 1,092 1,260 (c.) Technical schools .. .. .. .. 2,116 2,238 £16,156 £16,919 Education Boards are also authorized to make provision, when necessary, for the conveyance of pupils to primary schools by road or water. In the case of a child being compelled to live away from home to attend school, provision is made for a boarding-allowance of 2s. 6d. a week. The total amount paid in 1915-16 to Education Boards for conveyance by road and water and for board of children was £9,119, as against £7,204 in 1914-15. The combined amount paid for conveyance by rail, road, and water and for board of children in attendance at public schools during 1915-16 was therefore £26,038, as against an expenditure of £23,360 for the previous year. Class-books and School and Class Libraries. During the year grants were given for establishing and maintaining school and class libraries. These grants come under two heads : — (a.) A capitation grant at the rate of 3d. per head on the average attendance was paid to Boards for the purpose of supplying schools with supplementary continuous readers in sufficient numbers for class-reading in P to S6 inclusive, and also for the free supply of class-books in necessitous cases or in cases where a newly entered pupil had already purchased elsewhere class-books different from those in use in the school. After provision was made for the supply of such books, the balance of the grant, if any, was spent on approved books suitable for individual reading in school or at home.