E.—l

26

was therefore 5,799. The following are the figures for the years 1918 and 1919 in respect of the three classes of Native schools mentioned : — 1918. 1919. Combined rolls of Native schools .. .. .. .. 5,710 5,799 Combined average weekly roll number .. .. .. 5,694 5,803 Combined average yearly attendance . . . . . . 4,927 5,036 Percentage of regularity of attendance . . . . . . 865 866 The increase in the development of the Native village schools since the year 1881, when they were transferred to the control of this Department, is shown in the following table : —

Native Village Schools.-Number, Attendance, and Teachers.

No account is taken in the above table of a number of schools that have from, time to time been transferred to the various Education Boards. Table 112 in E.-3 supplies the information for each school in regard to the roll number and average attendance. In addition, to the Maori children in. attendance at the schools specially instituted for Natives there were 5,020 Natives attending 531 different public schools at the end of 1919, the number of pupils being 166 more than in 1918, and exceeding the number of Maoris attending Native village schools. The great majority of these pupils are in the North Island, more than half of them being in the Auckland District. Details as to their age and classification are given in Table TT.S, from which it may be seen that the great majority of the pupils are in the lowest classes, the proportion reaching S5 and S6 being much smaller than in the case of Maori scholars attending the Native village schools. The total number of Maori children receiving primary education at the end of 1919, including pupils of Native village schools, mission schools, and public schools, was 9,737. Classification of Pupils. Tables H6, H6a, H6b, and H7 in E.-3 give full information as to the races and classification of pupils on the rolls of the Native schools. As will be seen, 84-4 per cent, were Maoris speaking Maori in their homes, 3-1 per cent, were Maoris speaking English in their homes, and 12-5 per cent, were Europeans. In comparing Native schools with public schools in respect to the classification of pupils it will be seen that in Native schools a larger proportion of the pupils are in the lower classes, and also that the average age of the children in the various classes is higher than in public schools. Taking into consideration' the irregular and nomadic habits of the Natives, and the fact that the schools are in remote country districts, the difference is not greater than might be expected, and a comparison with small European schools similarly situated would probably show the Native schools at small, if any, disadvantage.

Number of Schools at Mud of Year. Average Attendance as Percentage of Weekly Roll. Number of Teachers. Year. Mean of Average Weekly Roll. Average Attendance : Whole Year. Teachers in Charge. Assistant Teachers, Male. Female. ! Male. Female. 1881 1886 1891. 1896 1902 1907 1912 1917 1918 1919 60 69 66 74 98 99 108 118 119 119 2,343 2,395 2,874 3,650 4,321 4,644 5,191 5,044 5,190 1,406 2,020 1,837 2,220 3,005 3,561 4,042 4,507 4,338 4,485 86-2 76-7 77-3 82-3 824 87 -0 86-8 86-0 864 54 60 59 64 77 82 86 71 73 73 6 9 8 11 20 18 22 45 43 44 1 2 4 9 8 7 4 26 26 61 83 105 122 122 119 115