E.—2.

[Appendix C.

rapid growth of the Waimacino schools. In that district in 1908 there were eight schools with a roll of -399; in 1911 there were fourteen schools with a roll of 808, an increase of 103 per cent. Hli the three years. With reference to the proportion of pupils in the preparatory classes, the following are the percentages from 1907 to 1911, inclusive: 33*41, 3666, 366, 3724, 3745—a steady increase. We have come to the conclusion that this increase is probably due in the main to natural causes, though in particular cases there is no doubt teachers have kept their pupils too long in the preparatory classes. r [Tables IV and V, being of merely local interest, are not reprinted.] Table Vl.—lnspection of Schools. Number of State schools inspected during 1911 ... ... ... 201 Number of Roman Catholic schools inspected ... ... ... ... 11 Number of other private schools inspected ... ... ... ... 6 Total number of schools inspected ... ... ... ... 218 Number of schools inspected during 1908 ... ... ... ... 199 1909 ... ... ... ... 205 1910 ... ... ... ... 207 Table Vll.—Efficiency of Schools. The following table shows how the schools in the district stood as regards efficiency : — Schools. Very good to excellent ... ... ... ... ... 13 Good ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 24 Satisfactory ... ... ... ... ... ... 101 Fail- ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 42 Weak ... .. ..; ... ... ... ... 26 Inferior ... .... ... ... ... ... ... 9 The table includes eleven Roman Catholic schools and six other private schools.

Table VIII. —Standard VI: Proficiency Examination. At this examination 932 pupils were presented, of whom 639 gained the proficiency certificate and 193 the competency certificate. Table VIII tabulates the results for the last three years.

The 1911 results were substantially the same as those given for the Dominion in 1910. These were —Proficiency, 6874 per cent.; competency, 20\53 per cent.; total passes, 8927 per cent. Table IXa.—Junior Scholarship Examination, 1911. [Summary only reprinted.] Number of pupils presented, 82 ; number of pupils qualified, 57. The number of schools competing for Junior Scholarships was less this year than in 1910, and only eight new schools entered the arena. The percentage of passes, however, was higher—7o per cent, in 1911 as against 62 per cent, in 1910; but it is disappointing to note that the number of passes was only o'4 per cent, of the total number of pupils in the district, and only 66 per cent. of the Standard VI roll. We do not think our teachers are showing sufficient interest or enterprise in availing themselves of the opportunity this examination offers to win honours for their schools, and at the same time secure the benefits of higher education for their pupils. With respect to the quality of the work done at the examination, it is very satisfactory to note that 407 per cent, of the number of candidates who passed gained more than 500 marks, 400 being required for a pass —a result surpassed but by only one other district, which secured the high percentage of 478. We have good reason, therefore, to congratulate those teachers who sent up successful candidates on the excellence of their teaching. Taken in conjunction with the increased percentage of proficiency passes, the Junior Scholarship results plainly point to increased efficiency in the teaching of Standard VI, from which the candidates are mainly drawn. [Table IXb, being of merely local interest, is not reprinted.]

XIV

.909 910 .911 Year. Proficiency Percentage of Certificates. Passes. I j .. j 578 63-2 .. ' 552 58-8 639 68-6 i Competency I Percentage of Total PercentCertificates. I Passes. i age of Passes. I I j I 194 21-2 84-4 230 24-5 83-3 193 20-7 89-3