E.—l

with fair approximation to accuracy, the number of new pupils admitted during the year, and the number of children who have left during the year. The admissions cannot be less than 14,802 (the number by which the Preparatory and First and Second Standard classes have increased during the year, plus the number promoted from them to the Third Standard class); and the departures cannot be less than 12,031, made up as follows: 2,069 out of the Third Standard class; 2,544 out of the Fourth Standard class; 2,973 out of the Fifth Standard class; 2,041 out of the Sixth Standard class; and 2,404 pupils who have passed the Sixth Standard. The statement in Table B of the numbers entering and leaving during the year is affected by all cases of removal from school to school, and of long absence from any school. The results of the comparison described in this paragraph accord well with the census statistics, which —as shown in the Education Report of two years ago —indicate that about 15,000 new pupils may be expected every year in the present state of the population of the colony. The average age of the children at the passing of any one standard varies with the districts, being, for example, much lower in Nelson than in Taranaki, but does not vary materially from year to year. If eight years may be assumed as the age at which a fairly well taught child may be expected to pass the First Standard, and if such a child ought to pass one standard every year, then the normal mean of age for all the standards is ten years and a half (the mean between eight and thirteen). The actual mean—derived from the averages in the several districts'—is (as is shown in Table E) eleven years and three quarters, which is very slightly above the mean of preceding years.

TABLE E.—Average Age of Pupils at Standard Examinations in 1889.

The numerical reports of the Inspectors are in all respects indicative of progress. Out of 113,366 belonging to the schools on the days of inspection, 54,937 or 4845 per cent, passed a standard. Of those who did not pass, 2,825 were absent; 2,949 were " excepted," not having attended long enough or regularly enough to establish an expectation of passing; and 40,792 were in the preparatory class and the class that had already passed the highest standard. The remainder is the number of those who are reckoned as having failed. This number is 11,863, which is 17 P75 per cent, of the number of those who ought to have passed. The reports for the several districts are summarised in the following table (F): —

IV

Education Districts. Average, Ages 'Or Stand) 1,1-As. Mean if Ages. Luckland 'aranaki Vanganui .. Vellington lawke's Bay larlborough Telson I. Yrs. mos. 9 2 9 5 9 3 8 C 8 7 9 1 9 0 8 9 9 7 9 0 9 0 9 2 9 4 II. ill. Yrs. mos. Yrs. mos. 10 4 11 5 10 6 11 11 10 5 11 9 9 9 11 0 10 6 i 11 7 10 2 ; 11 1 10 0 10 6 9 8 10 11 11 2 ! 12 0 10 2 i 11 4 9 11 11 1 10 2 ; 11 5 10 6 ! 11 7 IV. Yrs. mos. 12 7 12 9 12 9 12 0 12 6 12 0 11 11 12 5 12 8 12 5 12 2 12 2 12 8 V. Yrs. mos. 13 6 14 2 13 8 12 10 13 6 13 1 12 8 13 6 18 4 18 2 18 0 18 8 13 8 VI. Yrs. mos, 14 7 14 9 14 2 18 11 14 2 14 0 18 4 14 1 13 4 14 1 13 9 14 0 14 6 1889. Yrs. mos. 11 11 12 8 12 0 11 4 11 11 11 7 11 8 11 6 12 1 11 8 11 4 11 8 12 0 1888. Yrs. mos 12 0 12 2 12 0 11 5 11 10 11 2 ii a n 7 11 9 11 8 11 5 11 8 11 11 rrey .. .. .. Vestland lorth Canterbury louth Canterbury )tago southland Mean Kange (difference between highest and lowest) 9 1 1 1 10 8 11 4 12 r, 0 10 13 1 4 6 14 1 1 5 11 1 9 0 11 1 8 0 Mean in 1888 Eange in 1888 9 0 1 2 1 5 j 1 10 1 11 14 1 6 3 1 12 4 0 11 13 1 4 6 14 1 1 1