E.—l

according to the yearly average attendance, and the total number of children at the schools in each grade is shown.

Total, 1923.. .. .. .. 2,566 schools „ 1922 .. .. .. .. 2,550 „ Increase .. . . .. 16 ~ Comparing the above figures with those for the previous year, it will be noted that the number of schools with average attendance under 21 decreased, by- thirtythree, while the total of the schools in Grades II and 111 (21-120 pupils) increased by twenty-seven. There are still some 26,000 children in sole-teacher schools with an attendance not exceeding 35. Reference has already been made to the movement for consolidating schools, and the very considerable number of children in attendance at small schools shows that this is a matter of first importance. Roll Number and Attendance. The number of children attending public schools (including secondary departments of district high schools) in 1923 (average weekly roll number) was 211,624, being an increase of 2,373, or 1-1 per cent, on the previous year. The increase is somewhat smaller than that of recent years, and in fact the preparatory classes show a positive decrease in total roll number. It is gratifying to note that this is to some extent due to acceleration of the. pupils in their promotion to the standard classes, the number of over-age pupils in those classes showing a marked decrease, but it also reflects the drop in the birth-rate that was experienced as a result of the disturbing conditions produced by the war. The birth-rate in New Zealand in 1918 and 1919 was the lowest on record. The year 1920 and each subsequent year had approximately 5,000 more births than the year 1919. The total number of pupils (average weekly roll number) receiving primary education in the Dominion was—Public schools .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 208,496 Native schools .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,640 Registered private primary schools .. .. .. .. .. 26,010 Lower departments of secondary schools .. .. .. .. 500 Correspondence classes .. .. .. .. .. .. 365 241,646 The yearly average attendance at the public schools was 190,449, or 90 per cent, of the average weekly roll number. This percentage, while 0-8 per cent, below the record established in 1922, is eminently satisfactory. The Otago Education District again shows the highest average, but the results in all districts are uniformly good, the lowest percentage being 88-8.

11

Grade of School. Num her Tota of Average Schools. Attendance. Grade of School. Number of Schools. Total Average Attendance. 0 (1-8) 1 (9-20) II (21-35) IIIa (36-80) IIIb (81-120) IVa (121-160) IVb (161-200) IVc (201-240) Va (241-280) Vb (281-320) Vc (321-360) Vd (361-400) VIA (401-440) 232 722 546 578 138 64 33 31 25 22 33 17 15 1,399 10,226 14,367 29,703 12,985 8,715 5,987 6,999 6,719 6,641 11,401 6,755 6,446 Vln (441-480) .. VIIa (481-520) .. VIIb (521-560) .. VIIc (561-600) .. VIId (601-640) .. VIIe (641-680) .. VIIf (681-720) .. VIIg (721-760) .. VIIh (761-800) .. VIIi (801-840) .. VIIj (841-880) .. ' VIIk (881-920) .. II 21 II L3 14 hi 12 5 5 1 2 2 5.192 10,051 7,080 7,909 8,579 6,336 8,265 3,463 3,898 1.608 857 1,754