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Kindergarten schools under the control of free kindergarten associations are, however, conducted at each of the four chief centres, the total number of children in attendance being approximately 550. The Government pays a subsidy of £l ss. to the pound upon moneys raised by voluntary contribution for the maintenance of these schools up to a limit of £3 2s. 6d. per head of the average attendance, the total amount paid on this account in the year 1920-21 being £1,676. In addition, a pound-for-pound subsidy is paid on moneys raised for buildings, sites, or initial equipment for the schools ; the sum paid in this manner for the last financial year being £1,363. Education of Native Children. (See also E.-8, Education of Native Children.) Number of Schools. Special primary schools are maintained by the Government for the education particularly of Native children, the schools being under the direct control of the Education Department. Native schools are situated in country districts principally settled by Maoris, all excepting two being in the North Island. At the end of 1920 119 such schools were in operation, the same number as in the two previous years. The schools were graded as follows : — Grade I (average attendance 9-20) .. .. .. .. ..13 „ II i (average attendance 21-25) .. .. .. .. .. 7 „ II ii (average attendance 26-35).. .. .. .. ..16 ~ lIIa i (average attendance 36-50) .. .. .. 30 ~ [lla ii (average attendance 51-80) .. .. .. ..31 „ lIIb (average attendance 81-120) .. .. .. ..22 ~ IVa (average attendance 121-160) 119 In addition to the Native village schools, six primary mission schools for Maori children and ten boarding-schools established by private enterprise, the latter affording more advanced education to Maoris, were inspected by the Department's Inspectors. In districts more or less settled by Europeans, Native children attend the ordinary public schools, 568 of these schools having some Maori children in attendance in 1920 ; thus the total number of schools under inspection where Maori children were receiving instruction was — Native village schools .. .. .. .. .. .. ..119 Native mission schools subject to inspection by the Education .Dejrartment .. 6 Public schools at which Maori scholars were in attendance .. .. .. 568 Total number of primary schools .. .. .. .. 693 Native boarding-schools affording secondary education to Maoris .. .. 10 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. ..703 Roll Number and Attendance. The number of pupils on the rolls of Native village schools at the end of 1920 was—Boys, 2,917 ; girls, 2,591 : total, 5,508 —310 more than in the previous year. Included in these numbers are 385 boys and 342 girls who are Europeans, leaving a total of 4,781 Maori children, or 231 more than in 1919. The following figures refer to attendance at Native schools : — m 9 1920 Number on rolls at end of year .. .. .. .. 5,198 5,508 Average weekly roll number .. .. .. ..5,190 5,416 Average yearly attendance .. .. .. .. 4,485 4,639 Percentage of regularity of attendance .. .. .. 86-4 85-7 A considerable increase is observable in the roll number and average attendance compared with the previous year, the greater part of the increase being in the number of Maori scholars. The regularity of attendance compares well with that of public schools for 1920, serious epidemics affecting the position, in. both cases. Of 119 Native village schools thirty-seven attained a percentage regularity of 90 and upwards, and ninety-four schools reached the figure of 80 per cent, or over.

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