E.-l

38

The increase in the development of the Native village schools since the year 1881, when they were transferred to the control of this Department, is shown in the following table : —

Native Village Schools.—Number, Attendance, and Teachers.

No account is taken in the above table of a number of schools that have from time to time been transferred to the various Education Boards. Table H2 in E.-3 supplies the information for each school in regard to roll number and average attendance. In addition to the Maori children in attendance at the schools specially instituted for Natives, there were 4,628 Natives attending 501 public schools in December, 1916. This number has been decreasing during the last two years. In 1914 there were 4,905 Maoris at 566 public schools, and in 1915 there were 4,731 at 551 public schools. There appears to be some cause to fear that a certain number of Native children are escaping attendance at public schools, and that their presence is not only not always insisted upon, but is sometimes not desired. If anything of this nature does exist it is earnestly to be hoped that those responsible for so undesirable an attitude will speedily recognize the grave injustice to members of the Native race that may thus arise. Details as to examination, age, and classification of Native children attending public schools are given in Tables H5 and llsa in E.-3. The total number of children of Maori or of mixed race on the rolls of primary Native schools, public schools, Native mission schools, and secondary Native schools, together with such pupils as were receiving special technical training, at the end of the year 1916 was as follows : — I. Primary schools— (a.) Government Native schools .. .. .. 4,560 (b.) Mission schools .. .. .. .. .. 120 (c.) Public schools .. .. .. .. ..4,628 9,308 11. Secondary schools .. .'. .. .. .. .. 458 111. Special technical training .. .. .. .. .. 2 Total .. .. .. .. ; .. 9,768 Classification of Pupils. Tables H6, H6a, H6b, and H7 in E.-3 give full information as to the races and classification of pupils on the rolls of the Native schools. As will be seen, 85-1 per cent, were Maoris speaking Maori in their homes, 3-8 were Maoris speaking English in their homes, and 11-1 per cent, were Europeans. The percentage of Maoris speaking Maori in the home is 2-7 less than in 1915, of Maoris speaking English in the home 2-1 per cent; more, and of Europeans 0-6 more than in the previous year. In comparing Native schools and public schools with respect to the percentages of children in the various classes it will be found that in Native schools there is a larger percentage in the lower classes. The proportion of children at the various ages corresponds, however, very closely in the two classes of schools. The following table shows in a summary form the classification of

Number o' Mean of Average Year. Schools JJSLS» "^ at End weekly Boll. w hole Year. Average Attendance as Percentage of Weekly Koll. Number of Teachers. Teachers in Charge. Assistant Teachers. Male. ' Female. Male. Female. I Sewingmistresses. 1881 .. .. .. I 60 .. 1,406 1886 .. .. .. 69 2,343 ; 2,020 1891 .. .. .. | 66 2,395 f 1,837 1896.. .. .. 74 2,874 i 2,220 1902 .. .. ... 98 3,650 3,005 1907 .. .. .. j 99 4,321 3,561 1912 .. .. .. ! 108 4,644 4,042 1914 .. .. 115 5,053 4,385 1915 .. .. .. 117 5,232 4,604 1916 .. .. .. I 118 5,190 4,504 j 86-2 76-7 77-3 82-3 82-4 87 86-7 88-0 86-8 54 60 59 64 77 82 86 87 81 79 6 9 8 11 20 18 | 22 27 33 37 1 2 4 4 7 8 4 26 26 61 83 105 122 122 123 123 48 30 37 16 II 3 2 3 2 _Jff I