E.—l.

Registered Private Primary Schools. The following table summarizes the returns furnished by registered private primary schools with respect to the year 1925 : —

The number of schools at the end of the previous year was 295, and the total enrolment 26,302. Correspondence School for Backblocks Children. The correspondence school has been in operation for about five years, and may now be regarded as a permanent branch of the education system. During the past year the average number of pupils on the roll has been about five hundred, drawn from all parts of the Dominion, including such inaccessible places as Motuihi, Great Barrier, Little Barrier, Stephen, D'Urville, Forsyth, Kawau, and Dog Islands. Only those children who have no reasonable chance of attending a school are enrolled, and to prevent any overlapping every application for enrolment must be approved by the Senior Inspector of the district in which the applicant resides. The results so far obtained by the school are most gratifying, and from reports received it would appear that the work of correspondence pupils who later entsr a public school compares very favourably with that of the other children. In December last nineteen pupils sat for the Proficiency Examination; sixteen of these gained proficiency, one competency, while two failed. The regularity with which pupils send in their work for correction, and the thoroughness with which their lessons are done, afford striking evidence of the co-operation existing between the home and the school, the earnestness of both parents and pupils being most commendable. It is estimated that less than 1 per cent, of the pupils neglect their work. Physical Education. The Chief Physical Instructor reports that the work of physical training is progressing in a satisfactory manner. The number of instructors employed by the Department is fifteen. Much ground has been covered by the instructors, 2,600 visits being paid to schools. The work at the training colleges has been continued. This is regarded as perhaps the most important phase of the work of physical instruction. Manual Instruction. The following table shows the classification of full-time teachers of manualtraining classes at the end of 1925, Class VII being the highest class, and Division I including those teachers who are classified as having academic or professional qualifications equivalent to at least a University diploma involving three years' preparation of University standard.

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Undenomi- j Catholic i Other national 1 Church ! Church Total. Schools. | Schools. { Schools. Number of schools .. .. 45 186 54 285 Roll—Boys .. .. .. 962 9,590 1,256 11,808 Girls .. .. .. .. 1,204 10,992 1,929 14,125 Total .. .. .. .. 2,166 20,582 3,185 25,933 Average attendance .. .. .. .. 19,366 180,084 2,871 22,816 Teachers —Men .. . . . . .. . . 40 44 35 119 Women . . . . . . 94 576 118 788 Total . . .. 134 620 153 907