E.—lβ

7

Inspection.—All the schools were duly inspected, with the exception of five, which were open for only a few months of the year. Patea, Whenuakura, and Maxwelltown were purposely visited both by Mr. Bindon and Mr. Spencer on different dates. Also several schools were visited twice by Mr. Bindon with a view of giving special help to inexperienced teachers who were in need of it. The reports were written in duplicate, one copy being sent through the School Committee to the teacher interested, and the other to the Board. Examination in Standabds.—Of the ninety-one schools in operation at the end of the year eighty-one were duly examined in standards. Of the ten schools not examined, Momohaki was closed on the day appointed for the examination, owing to both teacher and pupils being laid up with influenza, and, unfortunately, no other day was available ; six were new schools not open for twelve months—viz., Hiwinui, Pukeroa, and Pemberton in the Oroua County; and Kaponga, Eatanui, and Mangatoki in the Hawera County—while the remaining three were old aided schools —viz., Glen Nevis, Upper Wangaehu, and Moutoa —which had been open only for short periods. The eighty-one schools were examined between the 31st July and the 19th December. On the days appointed for the examination there were 7,695 pupils (3,978 boys and 3,717 girls) on the school-rolls, of whom 4,734, or 61-5 per cent., were presented for promotion in the six standards, 2,929 were in the preparatory classes, and 32 had already passed Standard VI. Of the 4,734 presented in standards, 4,434, or 93-6 per cent., attended and were examined, 300 were absent, 239 were excepted—that is, failed, but not having made more than half the possible attendances during the three quarters preceding the quarter in which the examinations were held, the failures were not counted against the schools —931 failed, and 3,264 passed the requirements and were promoted. In the following tables (Tables A and B) will be found a condensed summary of the examination results for the past two years, the particulars of results in each standard, and the average ages of children in standards. Table C, which gives all the information found in Tables A and B, but with reference to individual schools, has not been printed, but it may be seen at the Board's offices.

Table A.

Table B.

Upon comparing the foregoing tables for 1891 with the similar tables for 1890 we find that the number examined in standards, and the number examined in the preparatory classes, are much the same for each year, and also the percentages of the roll-numbers presented in Standards I. to VI. inclusive. With regard to the actual examination results, however, there is a serious increase in

1890. 1891. 1. Presented in Standards I. to VI. inclusive 2. Preparatory class ... 3. Class above Standard VI. 4,726 2,866 41 4,734 2,929 32 4. Number on rolls on days of examination 7,633 7,695 5. Percentage of roll-number presented in Standards I. to VI. inclusive 6. Examined in Standards I. to VI. inclusive 7. Absent „ „ 8. Excepted „ „ 9. Failed „ .0. Passed „ „ 61-9 4,443 283 270 772 3,401 61-5 4,434 300 239 931 3,264 .1. Percentage of passes, calculated on roll-number (4) .2. Percentage of failures „ .3. Percentage of passes on number examined in standards .4. Percentage of passes on number examined in standards, omitting exceptions 44-5 18-5 76-5 81-5 7377-

Number of Schools examined in each Standard. Classes. Presented. i [ Absent. Examined. Ex- F&iledi Passe d. Perc^ ltage ceptea. Failures. Average Age of those that passed. Yrs. mos, 14 54 65 74 77 77 79 Above Standard VI. Standard VI. V. ... „ IV. ... „ III. ... II. ... I. 32 214 443 864 1,051 1,066 1,096 18 29 73 80 50 50 196 414 791 971 1,016 1,046 j I 9 23 48 73 53 33 68 137 280 262 88 96 119 254 463 636 875 917 36'4 35-0 37'7 29-2 9-1 95 14 6 13 7 12 9 11 10 10 8 9 5 4,766 300 4,434 239 931 3,264 22-2 12 It * Number of schools examined in one standard or more, 81. t Mean.