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last term will have to be sent away, a regrettable contingency and a retrograde step. The school resumed work after the Christmas holidays on Thursday, 16th February. The numbers seeking to gain admittance accentuated the demand for extra accommodation. Hours of Attendance. —The hours of attendance for both schools remained the same for 1921 as for 1920, but in the month of March this year a change was initiated so far as the Ifi-Ifi School is concerned. Instead of school, morning and afternoon, for five days in the week, a morning session on six days of the week is to be tried, the hours being from 8 to 12.15 for the Upper Division, and from Bto 11.30 for the Lower Division. This permits the children, many of whom travel considerable distances to school, to commence in the cool of the early morning, and obviates the necessity of spending a long luncheon-hour in the heat of tho day for the sake of a short afternoon session. Subjects of Instruction. —The subjects of instruction have remained much the same, but an effort has been made to bring in more history and geography into the work of the Upper Division of the Ifi-Ifi School, and at Malifa more drawing as well as crayon-work, elementary designing, brushwork, and plasticeno. A carpentry class has been held during the year for the upper boys of both, the Ifi-Ifi and Malifa Schools. A really successful year's work has been accomplished. Some teachers have done particularly well. At Ifi-Ifi especially the work has been advanced an important stage. Examination for Proficiency Certificates, N.Z. Junior National Scholarship Examination. —In accordance with arrangements made with the New Zealand Education Department, an examination for the New Zealand proficiency certificate was held, and, further, candidates were allowed to sit for the New Zealand Junior National Scholarship Examination, in order to be given a chance to qualify for free places on the results of that examination. The results in both cases were particularly gratifying. Five pupils of the Sixth Standard succeeded in gaining the proficiency certificate, and two candidates qualified for free places on the results of the Junior National Scholarship Examination, securing each, between 400 and 500 marks. These results are a sufficient index to the work that is being done at the school. Specimens of School-work sent to New Zealand. —At the request of the Minister of External Affairs, specimens of school-work from the Ifi-Ifi and Malifa Schools wen; sent to New Zealand for exhibition at various shows, such as pastoral and agricultural shows. The reports received show that the work has been most favourably received and commented on, the judges in several instances having remarked that the, work shown compares very favourably with the work done in New Zealand schools—and, indeed, in some respects more than favourably. School Buildings, Furniture, &c. — During the course of the year, at intervals, a Native carpenter from the Public Works Department has been sent to affect repairs to the school-buildings and furniture generally. During the Christinas holidays the interiors of the buildings were all renovated and the, desks thoroughly cleaned. Fences, too, have boon repaired, so that so far as possible everything lias been kept in a state of good repair. School Libraries. —The library at the Ifi-Ifi School still continues to be well used. During the year over one hundred additional books have been purchased and added to the libraries. Outside Activities. —The outside activities of the school in its various phases —the school band, the Boy Scout troops, and sports —have been well maintained. Concrete cricket-pitches have boon provided both at the Ifi-Ifi and at the Malifa Schools. New Food-plots. — Ground has been secured for tho growing of taro and other Native foods for the Malifa School boys living in the compound. Education Office. The Department has been finally located in the Courthouse buildings, arrangements having been made for an Education Office there. Special Classes. The special classes in English (for Samoans and others), and in Samoan for white, people, which had so auspicious a beginning, were carried on during the course of tho year—the English classes until November, and the Samoan until the end of the year. The Samoan class particularly was most, successful. Difficulties arose at the beginning of this school-year in reference to the carrying-on of both classes, more particularly as regards the class in the Samoan language and customs. But these difficulties have been overcome, and both classes will be again in operation during the, month of May. The Department has succeeded in obtaining the services of Rev. A. Hough, and also of Miss Small, of the London Missionary Society, for the classes in Samoan, and a most successful term of work is assured. District Schools for Savaii and Upolu. Last year's report made mention of the fact that a suggestion had been put forward to the effect that the New Zealand Government Vaipouli Estate, Savaii, should be taken over as a school reserve. This suggestion has been acted on, and the necessary steps have been taken for the establishment on the estate of a district school for Savaii. Arrangements have been made for the opening of the school on the 9th May. It is proposed to accommodate at first seventy pupils. The district school for Upolu will be temporarily housed at Malifa. The boys have been in large part already chosen, and will enter the school almost immediately. The number in attendance will be at first as in the case of Vaipouli School —seventy. Scholarship Scheme. In further pursuance of the provisional education scheme of 1920, four Samoan boys, one from the London Missionary Society schools, one from the Methodist schools, and two from the Government schools, have been chosen as scholarship-holders, and left by the February steamer for New Zealand, to attend St. Stephen's School for Maori Boys, Parnell, Auckland, for a period of three years.
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