E.—2

8

Classification and Examination. Table D is a summary for the whole Dominion of Table Dl, which shows the numbers in the several classes for the various districts. The proportion of pupils in the preparatory class, which has for years past been showing a gradual increase, shows a still further and very marked increase for the year from 34-27 to 36 - 66 per cent. Although this is partly accounted for by the increase of young children in the Dominion, it seems also to suggest that pupils are being kept too long in the preparatory classes.

TABLE D.—Classification of Pupils at Public Schools, December, 1909.

The following is a summary of the examination statistics for 1909 : — Total roll at time of annual examination ... ... ... 153,161 Present at examination ... ... ... ... ... 145,496 Present in preparatory classes ... ... ... ... 52,888 Present in classes S6 ... ... ... ... ... 9,480 classes S7 ... ... ... ... ... 1,938 Standard VI certificates gained, viz.,— Certificates of proficiency ... ... ... 6,403) s 4R( - competency 2,062) B'4DO8 ' 4D0 Details of these figures for each district are given in Table D 2. S6 Certificates. —The percentage of pupils who gained certificates of proficiency and certificates of competency respectively in the three years 1907-9 are shown below:— 1907. 1908. 1909. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Gained certificates of proficiency ... ... 59-00 61.96 67-54 competency ... ... 23-98 25-29 21-75 No certificate ... ... ... ... 17-02 12-75 10-71 100-00 100-00 100-00 The raising of the standard required for a certificate of proficiency, introduced by the regulations of 1908, has not, therefore, apparently had the effect of lessening the number of such certificates awarded. Average Age. —The average ages of the pupils in the several classes for the three years 1907-9 were as follows : — 1907. 1908. 1909. Yrs. Mo. Yrs. Mo. Yra. Mo. Preparatory classes ... ... ... 7 1 7 2 611 Class SI ... ... ... ... 9 1 9 3 9 2 ~ S2 ... ... ... ... 10 1 10 3 10 3 „ S3 11 1 11 3 11 4 „ S4 12 1 12 3 ' 12 3 „ S5 ... ... ... ... 13 0 13 1 13 0 „ S6 ... ... ... ... 13 10 14 0 13 11 „ S7 ... ... ... ... 14 11 14 9 15 0 Mean of average ages ... ... ... 11 5 11 6 11 5 Details for the several districts will be found in Table D 3.

Class P .. . 81.. . S2.. „ S3.. 84.. S5 .. . S6.. „ 87.. Classes. Boys. Girls. Total. .. 29,669 26,203 ! 55,872 9,678 8,990 18,668 9,439 i 8,580 18,019 8,931 8,350 17,281 8,661 7,768 16,429 7,291 6,560 13,851 5,202 4,798 10,000 1,116 j 1,180 2,296 Percentagi 1905. 1906. 28-28 29-36 12-06 12-08 11-95 12-18 12-67 12-17 12-03 11-79 10-69 10-59 8-37 8-24 3-95 3-59 IB for Five Years. 1907. 1908. 31-11 34-27 1205 11-96 12-10 11-61 12-04 11-98 11-46 11-20 10-24 9-65 7-79 6-87 3-21 2-46 1909. 36-G6 12-.25 11-82 11-34 10-78 908 6-56 1-51 Totals.. .. I 79,987 72,429 152,416 10000 10000 100-00 100-00 10000