E.—2

4

An estimate of the actual roll number of all children receiving primary education can. be obtained by taking into account children in attendance at public schools (exclusive of secondary departments of district high schools), Native schools, schools at the Chatham Islands, registered private primary schools, and the lower departments of secondary schools. The figures will then be— Average Weekly Roll Number Public schools (less secondary departments of district high 1914- 1915. schools).. .. .. .. .. .. 173,470 178,827 Native-village and Native mission schools .. .. 5,053 5,373 Chatham Island schools .. .. .. 98 88 Registered private primary schools .. .. 16,309 16,281 Lower departments of secondary schools .. 362* 417* Special schools .. .. .. .. 732 731 Total average weekly roll of primary scholars .. 196,024 201,717 * Number on roll at end of year. Attendance. (Tables 81, 82, 83, and El.) The following figures show the average attendance at public schools in the Dominion during the years 1914 and 1915 : — Including Secondary Excluding Seccondary Departments of Departments of District High Schools. District High Sohools. Year 1915 .. .. .. .. .. 163,092 160,895 Year 1914 158,134 156,211 Increase in 1915 .. .. .. .. 4,958 4,684 Increase per cent. .. .. .. .. 3 - l 3 - 0 It will be seen that the increase per cent, in the average attendance was 3-1, as compared with 3-2 in the average weekly roll number. The figures for 1914 were 3-6 and 4-7 respectively, so that in both cases the increase was not so great as in the preceding year. The increase in actual figures in the average attendance was 6,892 in 1914 and 4,958 in 1915. The difference is largely accounted for by the fact that in 1914 the average attendance per cent, of roll number was 0-9 higher than that of the preceding year, while in 1915 it was 0-1 per cent, lower than in 1914. The attendance per cent, of roll in 1915 was 90-0, while in 1914 it was 90*1 — the highest percentage yet attained. The following figures indicate the attendance per cent, of roll for the last six years : — Attendance per Cent, of Roll. 1910 .. .. . . .. .. .. 87-7 1911 .. .. i. .. .. .. 89-3 1.912 .. .. .. .. .. .. 88-9 1913 .. .. .. .. .. .. 89-2 1914 .. .. .. .. 90-1 1915 .. .. .. .. 90-0 Six education districts show an improvement in the attendance percentage on the preceding year, two show the same figures, and five are not so good. Westland, with an increase of 09 per cent., shows the most marked improvement, Grey coming next with an increase of 0-5 per cent. As in 1914, Otago has again attained the highest percentage —91-9 —although it is lower than the record of 92-7 reached in 1914. Marlborough comes second with a percentage of 91-4, and Wellington third with a percentage of 91*0. The following figures indicate the percentage of regularity in other Englishspeaking countries as compared with that in New Zealand. It will be seen that New Zealand holds the highest place in spite of the fact of its scattered population (compared with the United Kingdom) and the difficulty of transit in the remote districts. It must be remembered, however, with reference to several of the Australian States and the United States of America, that the attendance percentage