45

E.—l

schools, the percentages of pupils in the various classes in public schools and in the case of Natives attending public schools being also shown for comparison : —

Efficiency of the Schools. In the opinion of those qualified to judge, the Native school compares very favourably in general efficiency with the public school of similar size and similarly situated. Inspectors of public schools, who during the last two years have inspected and examined a number of Native schools, speak very highly in their reports of the work done in these schools, in some instances the general conduct of the Native schools being held up as an example to public schools. The testimony of European parents who from choice or necessity send their children to Native schools also goes to prove that the standard of merit attained in these schools in no wise falls short of that reached in public schools, in addition it should be said that, in the many instances in which the teachers enter into the true spirit of their work, the Native school, besides providing for the education of the Maori children, becomes an uplifting and generally helpful influence in the community in which it is placed. As in 1916, the work of the inspection and examination of Native schools was carried on in 1917 by the Inspector of Native Schools assisted by the Inspectors of Public Schools, to whom was assigned a certain proportion of the schools. The following figures give an estimate of the efficiency of the schools, as judged by the Inspectors for the years 1916 and 1917 : — Number oE Schools. 1910. 1917. Very good to excellent .. .. . . .. .. 39 42 Satisfactory to good . . . . . . .. ~ 65 66 Inferior to weak .. .. .. .. .. ..11 10 The number of certificates of proficiency awarded was thirty-one, and of competency (S6) also thirty-one. Natives attending Public Schools. The remarks that have been made previously on the progress of Maori children attending public schools still unfortunately apply. Where no welldirected effort is made to assist them in mastering the English language the Maori pupils go through their school-life with a heavy handicap, the consequence being that they fail to achieve results in such subjects as spelling, composition, history, and geography, comparable to those attained in Native schools. Writing, drawing, and handwork, arc well done, such subjects being more or less independent of a thorough knowledge of the language. The Maoris' slow progress is largely attributed also to irregularity of attendance —a fault that is not at all marked in the cases of Natives attending their own schools. Secondary Education and Free Places. The Government has not instituted any schools especially for the secondary education of Maoris, but a number of such schools having been established and being maintained by various denominational bodies, the Government subsidizes them by providing at them a number of free places for all Maori children possessing

Preparatory Standard I II HI IV v VI „ VII Classes. i Percentage of Roll. Maoris Europeans Total ' attending attending attending , • Native Native Native- Natiye attend jl .Schools. Schools. Schools. Schools Schoola] pub] . o » Schools. .. ; 2,088 181 2,269 43'9 3514 53'6 591 64 655 127 12'90 15'5 635 j 61 696 134 12'75 122 .. ! 522 69 591 1T4 1214 93 .. 379 64 443 8'5 10-93 5'6 247 61 308 6-0 9'52 2'6 .. i 143 46 189 3'7 646 12 ... .] 17 5 22 O'l 0-16 ! I