Appendix C.i

E.—2.

XIII

The above table shows no striking disparitj between the numbers given for Wanganui and those for the Dominion, except in the case of the preparatory olasees, where the average age is higher ;m<l the roll-number greater. We are pleased to note thai we have a higher percentage of pupils in Standard Vll than holds for the nonunion. In the following table a comparison is made with the numbers given in 1008 and 190!) for thr schools of our district: —

Table III.

From the above figures it will be seen that during the year 1910 there has been an increase of 45.'5 pupils on the school-roll at tin.' time of the teachers' annual examination. The chief inorease is in the preparatory or infants' department, and the high average age of the pupils in this part of the school seems to indicate either thai teachers are still inclined to keep their pupils ton long in the preparatory classes, or that in the country schools a large proportion of the pupils begin their school life at a late age. or that the efficiency of the teaching is in too many cases uot what it ought to 1>. , . Probably, however, all three causes have been active. Table IV shows that in at least six of the more important schools the average age in the preparatory ('lasses is unusually high. The average age in Standard A'l has also increased, and this no doubt accounts for the decrease in the number of pupils in Standard VII. It must be noted, however, that the secondary departments in the district high schools have not been affected, tin , total number of pupils there having increased. The country schools, therefore, have been losing Standard VII pupils, and Table IV indicates thai the high average in Standard VI is also due to these schools. [Table IV omitted.] I Table V, of local interest, also omitted.] Table VI. Inspection of Schools. Number of State schools inspected during 1910 ... ... ... L 96 Number of denominational schools inspected ... ... ... .. 11 Total number of schools inspected ... ... ... ... 207 Number of schools inspected during 1908 ... ... ... ... lit!) 1909 ... ... ... ... 20.') The numbers given above refer to the second inspectorial visit paid to the school. Standard VI. — Proficiency Examination. At this examination 939 pupils were presented, of whom 552 gained the proficiency certificate and 2-'!0 the ( potency certificate. Table VII tabulates the results for the last three years.

Table VII.

Classes. Number on Number on Number on Average Boll, 1908. Roll, 1909. Roll, 1910. Ages, 1908. I Average Average Ages, 1909. Ages, 1910. Standard VII VI V IV III II I Preparatory Yrs. mos. 246 273 266 14 10 851 912 947 13 11 1,231 1,242 1.269 13 1 1,451 1,165 1.488 12 8 1,637 1,602 1.592 11 2 1,583 1,619 1,727 10 3 1,644 1,735 1,749 9 2 5,005 5,117 5,363 7 1 Yrs. mos. Yrs. mos. 14 11 15 0 13 11 14 0 13 2 18 0 12 3 12 3 11 I II 3 10 3 10 I 9 I !) 3 7 0 7 2 Totals Catholic schools Grand totals 13,648 13,965 14,401 778 912 929 14,426 14,877 15,330

Yrar. Profioienoy Percentage of Competency Percentage of Total PercentCertificates. Passes. Certificates. Passes. age of Passes. I 1908 I m< i<, 1910 517 59-0 240 27-4 86-4 578 63-2 194 21-2 84-4 552 58-8 230 24-5 83-3