A.—4

Grade I—Missions Pastor Schools.—These are under the sole control of the missions. All children from five to ten years of age attend these schools, and the instruction given is in Samoan. Grade 11 —Mission Schools.-—These schools are gradually being established in each district by the missions. At the close of the past year twenty-five such schools had been established, viz.-—London Missionary Society, eighteen ; Methodist Mission, six ; Latter-Day Saints, one. These schools are in charge of Samoan teachers selected by the missions but paid by the Administration. A common syllabus drawn up with the. advice of the Board of Education is followed, in which English is a subject. In the Grade II schools the Samoan child qualifies for his proficiency certificate, and from these schools the scholarship boys who proceed to Grade 111 schools are selected. Grade lll—Government Schools: Malifa (Upolu) and Vaipouli (Savai'i). —These schools are under the direct control of the Administration, and are taught by white teachers with the assistance of Native teachers. The teaching is in English only, and higher education is provided for. Technical instruction is given in plumbing, carpentry and boat-building, wireless, and engineering. Before the Samoan teachers are sent out to the Grade II schools they undergo a course of training at Malifa (Government Grade 111 school), and refresher courses are also held from time to time. During these courses instruction is given in school method, English, agriculture, carpentry, drill, games, work-books, registers, &c. The Medical Department also co-operate in the matter of arranging lectures by Medical Officers on the simple and common ailments found amongst children in Samoa. In addition the Administration's travelling teacher has paid periodical visits to the Grade II schools, and advised and assisted the Samoan teachers in the schools themselves. Government Schools. Malifa and Vaipouli Schools. —These two district schools have done excellent work throughout the year. Inspections have been made periodically by the Superintendent of Schools, and the Chief Inspector for the Education Department, New Zealand, has also visited the schools. The plantations attached to the schools have supplied sufficient food for the boys throughout the year. Sport in the form of football, cricket, and athletics generally has entered largely into the programme of the schools. Avele Agricultural School. —This school was referred to in last year's report as having then just recently been established for the purpose of affording Samoan youths an opportunity of receiving instruction in agriculture. Before boys enter Malifa and Vaipouli Grade 111 schools they are required to undergo a course of training at Avele. In consequence of the heavy work devolving on the pupils in laying out the school-site and in establishing food plantations, very little experimental work beyond cotton-cultivation could be attempted by them during the year, but now that the initial difficulties have been overcome more time should be available in future for this important feature of the school's work. Ifii Ifi School (for Europeans).—This school, staffed by Europeans, has made good progress during the year. Besides preparing pupils for the New Zealand Proficiency Examination, extra classes have been held in the afternoon for the purpose of assisting ambitious pupils for the examinations for the Public Service Entrance. Examinations. Examinations of the University of New Zealand, the Postal Department of New Zealand, and Accountancy Examinations of Australia were conducted by the Superintendent of Schools during the year. The examination for the New Zealand Proficiency Certificate was conducted during the year with the following results Candidates. Passed. Ifi Ifi School .. .. .. .. .. 10 7 Malifa School .. .. .. .. .. 4 3 14 10

Roll Numbers and Average Attendance at Government Schools during the Year ended 31st March, 1925.

3—A. 4.

17

Ifl Ifi. Malifa (Sen.). Malifa (Jun.). Vaipouli. Avele. Total. Date. — , Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. only Boys. | Girls. Roll Numbers. 30th June, 1924 .. 109 105 93 15 125 I 46 90 48 465 166 631 30th September, 1924 .. 109 104 89 12 *101 j 42 77 57 433 i 158 591 31st December, 1924 .. 95 103 87 12 73 I 27 72 54 381 j 142 523 31st March, 1925 .. 89 108 I 94 14 114 I 52 72 43 412 j 174 586 Average Attendance. , 30th June, 1924 .. 91-7 91-5 j 92-9 .. 132-5 81 43-2 .. .. 532-8 30th September, 1924 .. 97-9 90-1 | 81-7 11-7 92-7 38-1 75 46-7 I .. .. 533-9 3lst December, 1924 .. 81-2 89-3 76-2 9-9 68-7 26-9 70 49-9 .. .. 472-1 31st March, 1925 .. 75-7 91-3! 77-4 11-9 102-6 46-8 70 37-9 .. .. 513-6 I ! 1 Although the Grade III (Government) School for Upolu is at Malifa, it is held there in conjunction with a school for Native boys and girls of certain villages in the vicinity of Apia which is conducted by the Administration in accordance with arrangements made with those villages by the former German Government. This explains why, although the Grade III schools (Malifa and Vaipouli) are for boys only, both boys and girls are shown as attending Malifa School. Girls do not attend the Grade III section of that school, however.