69

E.—l

and under 100 pupils, 10; 100 and under 150 pupils, 16 ; 150 and under 300 pupils, 5; 300 and under 500 pupils, 5 ; 500 and upwards, 6. Two of these, Broughton and Waiau, are aided schools; and the two schools in the District of Governor's Bay South are half-time schools, taught by one master. The following table shows the number of schools maintained and aided by the Board, with the number of children on the rolls and in average attendance, for the three years since " The Education Act, 1877," came into operation:—

Table No. 5, appended to this report, gives the ages of the children and the number classed in each standard, also the number receiving instruction in each of the subjects prescribed by the Education Act. The following table, in continuation of one presented last year, shows the steady increase in the number of schools and of children on the rolls and in average attendance since the first introduction of an educational system under the Provincial Ordinance of 1863. For purposes of comparison, only so much of the Provincial District of Canterbury is included as is now comprised in the Education District of North Canterbury:—

Noemal School. —The report of the Principal, Mr. W. Malcolm, contains full information as to the principles on which this institution is conducted. There were 25 students at the end of the December quarter, 1880, and 31 in the March quarter of the present year, while several applicants are awaiting admission at the beginning of next term. As evidence of the thoroughness of the work being done, it may be observed that at the recent examination for certificates every student in the Normal School who entered succeeded in passing. The staff of the training school remains unaltered, except that Mrs. Crowley, the kindergarten mistress, gave notice, in accordance with the terms of her agreement, in consequence of the reduction of salaries. Her engagement terminates on the 6th April. A new set of regulations has received the Minister's approval, and is now in force. The most noticeable features are the encouragement given to students to take advantage of the lectures at Canterbury College, and the establishment of scholarships, two of which are tenable by pupil-teachers who matriculate at the University of New Zealand. The Board will also, so far as its funds permit, make allowances to past pupil-teachers, with a view of enabling them to pass the year that commonly intervenes between the completion of the pupil-teacher's term of service and the obtaining of a teacher's certificate in improving themselves by a course of study and professional training in the Normal School. Inspection.'—The number of children presented in standards during the year 1880 was 8,116, of whom 5,517 passed, being an average of 679. The results are inferior to those of last year ; but the conditions of last year's examinations, which were the first held under the new standards, were unusually lenient. The following table gives the number of children presented and passed, the average of passes, and the average age of the children passed in each standard : —

On the whole the Board believes that the teachers show a very commendable zeal and efficiency in the discharge of their duties, and that the schools are making fair progress. In a few cases, in which the Inspector's report was unfavourable, the teacher has been warned that, unless considerable improvement is manifested at the next inspection, or at a special inspection to be held in three or six months, he will be removed from his appointment. 11— E. 1.

Quarter ended December 31. District Schools. Aided Schools. Total of Schools. On Roll. Average Attendance. Percentage. 1878 1879 1880 106 116 121 4 4 2 110 120 123 13,647 15,230 16,437 10,076 11,381 12,233 73-83 74-72 74-42

Quarter ended December 31. District Schools. Denominational Schools.* Aided Schools. Total of Schools. On Roll. Average Attendance. Percentage. 1863 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 2 98 100 101 114 119 31 1 2 3 8 1 33 99 102 107 117 120 1,605 12,144 12,464 13,516 15,016 16,253 1,030 8,295 9,068 9,975 11,245 12,096 6417 6830 7275 7380 7473 74-42 * Aid to denominational schi >ls ceased after September, 1873.

Standard. Presented. Passed. Percentage. Average Age. I. II. III. IV. V. VI. 2,117 2,552 1,844 1,074 414 115 1,808 1,998 953 485 217 56 85 78 51 15 52 49 Yrs. Mths. 8 4 9 9 11 4 12 4 13 2 13 9