A.—3.

Roman Catholic Mission Schools.

for total r ber ° f 0l ! being educated tie Group is 2,979, and the average attendance 163 1S Per ' increase in school population, as compared with the previous year, is Seven schools have European Head Teachers, while the remaining Head Teachers are Native. Staff. European. With one exception, the staff remains as at 31st March, 1936. +1. !i' C^ enzle ' Educatlon Officer and Head Teacher, Avarua School, was transferred to Apia towards the end o f the year consequent on his appointment as Superintendent of Schools for Western Samoa He has been associated with education services m the Islands for the past thirteen years—Nine four years , Aitutaki, two years : Head Teacher, Avarua School and Education Officer. Cook Islands, seven years. 3 , f at j Ve '7~\T heS ®. teachers continue to do good work, and they are steadily improving. Their own standard of education handicaps them, but they are willing and intelligent and are always readv to incorporate ideas of method and class management, Special efforts are being made to improve their educational status by means of afternoon classes taken by the European Head Teachers. Work in this direction is well worth while, and will help to remove their disability. Medical. in »vZhn!T n A C^ S '7Ī h X ° hief Medical officer > nurses > and Nativ e assistants examined the pupils in all schools and indicated those requiring treatment. For special ailments treatment was given at the Avarua Hospital, while supplies of cod-liver oil and iron tonic have been maintained at the schools where daily doses have been given to children reauirinff them This has had a decidedly beneficial effect on the general health of the pupils q g Ihe usual first-aid supplies have been furnished to schools. the pupllf IStnCt NUrSe haS Pald ViSitS t0 aH schools ' attendin S particularly to the personal hygiene of Outer Islands.—'The health of the children in the outer islands has, in general, been very These schools have been visited by the medical staff as opportunity offered. Where Resident Nurses are stationed much good work has been accomplished in treating the children and, on the other islands the Resident Agents have rendered valuable medical assistance. Dental. Rarot.onga.~~The arrival of a new Dental Officer has facilitated the continuance of dental treatment n Rarotonga. All. schools have their allotted times, and regular attention has been given. Extractions and fillings are carried out, and this must have good results. The number requiring treatment is being steadily reduced and in the course of time, it is hoped that the Dental Officer will be able to cope with all new entrants as well as keep the mouths of the remainder in good condition time to t[if?/th7^ Win vf 0 / h f? S ?i ( ; 0f ? dentist ' extractions of teeth have had to be made from time to time, as the possibility of dental treatment is very remote. The Curriculum. Work has continued on the lines laid down in the new syllabus of instruction put into practice during last year. Although the syllabus is definite and couched in simple language, the Native teacher the S ir S / lts mter Pftation. European Head Teachers have spent much time on this with their Native assistants, who are beginning to realize its importance. due a E tte g nttn health ' tr ° Pi ° al agriculture are s P e cially emphasized, and the other subjects receive Agriculture. Cuttings of hibiscus, frangi-pani, and gardenia were struck in the garden plots of all schools in Rarotonga and the plants forwarded by the Agriculture Department to the Waitangi Estate,

7

Island. School. st „« Number. j "tart. Raratonga . . . . St. Joseph's Convent .. 160 5 Atiu . . .. Atiu Catholic .. 49 2 Mauke .. .. Mauke Catholic .. 65 2 Mitiaro .. .. Mitiaro Catholic 26 2 Manihiki .. .. Manihiki Catholic .. 27 3 Rakahanga .. Rakahanga Catholic .. 44 2 371 15