23

E.—l

of the Maori. The regular increase in the numbers of Maori children attending the Native-village schools and the present high physical and intellectual standard of the Maori race prove completely, however, that such a view was entirely unfounded. The average yearly attendance at Native-village schools was maintained at a creditably high percentage (89-9) of the average weekly enrolment. Boarding-schools for the secondary education of Maoris have been established by religious bodies, and the Government provides a number of scholarships tenable at these schools, which are inspected by the Department's officers. There were twelve schools at the end of last year, with an enrolment of 533 pupils, of whom 167 held Government scholarships. In addition, three Maoris held scholarships at Auckland University College and Otago University, taking courses in arts, theology, and medicine, and five Maoris held agricultural scholarships at Te Aute College. JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS. The number of post-primary schools of the type sometimes called junior high schools in operation during the year was the same as in the previous year —namely, eight. No new junior high schools were opened during the year. A new secondary school—Rongotai Boys' College—was opened at Wellington in 1928, and, as the available accommodation at the school was in excess of that required for the time being for secondary pupils, it was decided to admit meantime boys of Standard VI from neighbouring schools. Owing to this unusual constitution the junior department of the school, which is designated Form 11, is for statistical purposes being treated as a junior high school, and details regarding it are therefore included in the following tables regarding junior high schools. The total number of children enrolled at junior high, schools (including Rongotai Boys' College) at the end of 1929 was 2,204, as against 2,280 in the previous year. Information regarding the attendance and classification of pupils in attendance at junior high schools in 1929 is shown in the following tables : —

Roll Number and Classification of Pupils in Attendance at Junior High Schools.

oo -g g :=j g cj Classification of Pupils on Roll as at 30th June, 1929. s# «-S ® : r ■ tt* i q i i ° ~ ° H S °§S g'S Form I. Form II. Form III. All Forms. Junior High School. g |c ~ _Q .£3 © H _Q rH h> rri E~> 5. afl J Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. & _Js_ (a) Whangarei .. 122 198 295 278 79 75 74 72 * * 153 147 300 (c) Kowhai .. 474 405 764 753 186 161 168 160 76 67 430 388 818 (c) Northcote .. 163 129 250 258 55 69 58 56 20 23 133 148 281 (b) Matamata .. 66 118 155 145 48 38 44 27 | t 92 65 157 (a) Rotorua .. 69 80 134 128 52 39 27 21 * * 79 60 139 (d) Rongotai .. 2 82 79 76 .. .. 80 .. .. .. 80 80 (a) Marlborough 117 135 224 221 72 56 55 56 * * 127 112 239 (a) Waitaki Boys' 101 79 160 155 68 .. 92 .. * .. 160 .. 160 (a) Waitaki Girls' 74- 78 143 135 .. 69 .. 78 .. * .. 147 147 Totals, 1929 1,188 1,304 2,204 2,149 560 507 598 470 96 90 1,2541,0672,321 Totals, 1928 1,271 1,312 2,280 2,221 574 462 659 493 92 115 1,3251,0702,395 Diflerence .. -83 -8 --76 -72 -14 +45 1—61 j-23 +4 -25 -71 -3 -74 (а) These schools are senior high schools to which junior departments consisting of Standard V and Standard VI pupils have been attached. They are sometimes called junior-senior high schools. (б) A district high school including a primary-school department up to Standard IV, a junior high school or junior secondary department consisting of the former Standard V and Standard VI pupils, and a senior high school or senior secondary department. (c) These schools are separate junior high schools including the former Standard V and Standard VI pupils and also a small Form III or the lowest form of the senior high school. (d) A senior secondary school to which boys of Standard VI are admitted." * Number of Form III pupils included in the statistics for secondary schools. f Number of Form III pupils included in the statistics for district high schools.