THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THE COLONY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2168, 26 August 1907, Page 2

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THE COLONY.

WHAT IT COSTS TO EDUCATE THE YOUNG MAORILANDER. SOME INTERESTING STATISv TICS. Special to Times. WELLINGTON, August |3. The annual report of the Education Department- states that at the end of last year the colony had 1847 schools with 139,302 children on the rolls.

This is -an increase of 40 more schools and 1693 children on the totals for 1905. The North Island schools have more children than those of the South, the average attendances being: North 66,149, South 55,809. For every 100 hoys on the school rolls of the colony there are 92 girls. The children are distributed over the various standards as follows: Preparatory 40,895, Standard 1 16,839, Standard 2 16,965, Standard 3 16,947, Standard 4, 16, 425, Standard 5 14,751, Standard 6 11,475, Standard 7 5002. Of the children in Standard 1 8187 or 82.45 per cent, gained either the proficiency or competency certificate. This is slightly less than -the number in 1905, owing to tlie stricter test imposed for the proficiency certificate. In December, 1906, there were employed on the primary staff of tho public schools 3872 teachers, of whom 3201 were adults and 671 pupil teachers, an increase of 64 adults and a decrease of S pupil teachers on tho figures for 1905. . -)• Tlie total of all salaries and allowances at the rates paid at the end of tho year was £487,344. This includes tho salaries and lodging allowances of pupil teachers, as well as all salaries and house allowances paid to adult teachers. The average rate per teacher was therefore £25 17s 3d. A fairer idea could probably ho gained hv excluding pupil teachers and by deducting all allowances in the case of adult teachers. It is then found that the average salary of an adult male teacher was in December, 1906, £165 13s Id, as compared with £174 14s 9d in 1905. The average salary per woman teacher mas £lO7 4s Id, as against £96 6s md, and the average salary for all adults. £139 2s 2d, as against £125 17s sd. . The cost of the training of teachers dtiring tlie year was £33,747. During 1906 the voto for school buildings was distributed as follows: For maintenance and replacement £56,054, renits £754, replacing property damaged or destroyed by fire £14,557, additions £19,174, new •schools £19,457. A sum of £10,083 was paid for the conveyance of school children to and from school.

A sum of £4528 was expended _on physical training, provided for 14,548 cadets and 135,303 children requiring drill instruction. At the end of 1906 the secondary schools giving free tuition to duly qualified pupils and receiving grants therefor under section 87 of the Education Act numbered 23, as against 21 for the previous vear; the total number of contributions to the superannuation fund at 31st March, 1907, was 2812. Tli e balance to the credit of the fund was £34,733.16s 2d, and of this sum £28,000 bias been invested on mortgage, £14,500 at 4J per cent, and £13,500 at 5 per cent.