•Appendix B.]

E.—2.

The percentage of passes for proficiency certificates at the last S6 examination was only 66-6, as compared with 69-9 in 1914. This disappointing result was due mainly to the exceptional, weakness of the S6 classes in three of the largest schools —a weakness the Inspectors did not become aware of until late, in the year, when the notified visits of inspection were paid. When these classes were excluded from the calculation the percentage of passes became 68-8, very little below the normal for- the, district. The results gained by the district in the Junior National Scholarship Examination were not as creditable as usual, and this falling-off appears to furnish additional proof that the S6 work was of ' somewhat poorer quality than in previous years. The number of (intrants was, however, much the same as usual, a fact that appears to us to indicate that too low a standard of judgment is applied ti) the pupils' work by many S6 teachers. There is no doubt, however, that the small number of scholarship-winners in this district is due in part to the disinclination of teachers to give special attention to the candidates. We are quite in agreement with this principle ; but so long as there is the. possibility of one education district being compared with another in respect of scholar-ship successes we are, in a measure, compelled to favour the special tuition of scholarship candidates. If, however—as indeed we would suggest should be done —scholarships were allotted to each education district on the basis of the school population in that district, the undesirable element of rivalry as between district and district would disappear. Further, under such a system it would be possible to allot the scholarships on the results of the Proficiency Examination., and save the whole cost of the present scholarship examination. In the case, of the special Free Place Examination, we have found a good deal of overlapping with the Proficiency Examination. Not a few candidates from both secondary aird primary schools in this district sit for both examinations ; some candidates who fail at the proficiency test pass the free-place test, and vice versa. We would suggest the unification of the three examinations. District High Schools. — Report on Secondary Education.] We are, &c, T. B. Strong, James Milne. The Director of Education, Wellington. D. Stewart.

AVELLINGTON. Sir— Wellington, February, 1916. We have the honour to submit our report for 1915 on the work and condition of tire primary schools in the Wellington District. Statistics. —The total number of schools in active operation at the end of the year was 166, together with eight side schools, making 174- in all. Six schools were closed during the year—viz., Aohanga, Kaiwaka, Mikimiki Valley, Pori, Waimanu, and Wangaelru ; and six were opened—viz., Berhampore, Eastern Hutt, Mangapakcha, Poroporo, Ruawhata, and Waihoki Valley. Side schools were also opened at Roseneath and Petone, West. Particulars as to standard numbers and average ages are set out in the following tables : —

XIII

Classes. Number on Roll. Present at the Annual Examination. Average Age of Pupils in each Class. 166 State schools— Standard VII VI V IV HI II I Preparatory 274 1,706 1,951 2,234 2,488 2,500 2,550 6,831 263 1,692 1,903 2,185 2,425 2,397 2,439 6,271 Yrs. mos, 14 11 13 9 12 10 12 0 10 11 9 10 8 7 6 II Totals 20,534 19,575 9 9* Twenty registered private schools— Standard VII VI V „ . IV Ill II I Preparatory! 54 152 191 213 260 239 234 597 49 150 180 201 254 228 218 572 14 14 12 11 11 10 8 6 9 0 3 10 0 0 3 6 Totals 1,940 1,852 9 1* Two unregistered private schools ... 190 155 * Mean of average i__ ,ge. Giving a total of 196 schools in all, with 22,661 in itfctuiid; vncc.