27

E.—l

The total number of children of Maori or of mixed race on the rolls of the 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 1918 was as follows : — I. Primary sell 00ls — (a.) Government Native schools .. .. .. 4,472 (b.) Mission schools .. .. .. .. .. 175 (c.) Public schools .. .. .. .. .. 4,854 9,501 11. Secondary schools .. .. .. .. .. .. 471 111. Special technical training .. .. .. .. .. 4 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 9,976 Classification of Pupils. Tables Ho, 11.6 a, llOis, and 117, 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*2 par cent, were Maoris speaking Maori in their homes, 3*l were Maoris speaking English in their homes, and 11-7 per cent, were Europeans. In comparing Native schools with public schools in respect to the classification, of pupils it appears that in Native schools a larger* proportion of the pupils are in the lower classes, and also that the average age of the children, in the various classes is higher than in public schools. The difference, however, is not greater than would result naturally from the more or less irregular and nomadic habits of the Natives, and if the comparison were made with small public schools in country districts only, the difference, if any, would be much less. Compared with the Maori children attending public schools the pupils of Native schools are younger in their classes and reach higher standards. The following table shows in a summary form the classification of pupils in Native schools, the percentages of pupils in the various classes in public schools and in the case of Natives attending public schools being also shown for comparison : —

Efficiency of the Schools. As was the case in the two preceding years, the inspection and examination of Native schools were carried out by the Inspector of Native Schools, and, in certain districts, by the Inspectors of Public Schools. The reports of the Inspectors go to show that the work and condition of the schools is highly satisfactory, the schools, in the opinion of Inspectors of Public Schools, being often superior to public schools of the same size. The report of the Inspector of Native Schools, which deals critically with the treatment of all subjects of the curriculum, shows clearly that in spite of the difficulty of having a new language to teach, Native-school teachers are not regarded as having carried out their task unless results of a high standard of merit in all subjects are obtained. By the inclusion of many Native schools in the schemes of the Education Board for the instruction of agriculture, woodwork, and cookery, the pupils receive efficient teaching in these subjects. An

("lasses. Maoris Europeans attending attending Native Native Schools. Schools. j Total attending Native Schools. Percentage of Roll. Natives Native Publio attending Schools. Schools. Publio Schools. Preparatory Standard J II „ III „ iv v VI „ VII 2,003 179 624 76 586 72 548 70 334 76 250 56 120 53 7 10 2,003 024 580 548 334 250 120 7 179 76 72 70 76 56 53 10 2,182 700 058 018 410 300 173 17 43*1 13*8 13*0 12*2 8*1 6*1 3*4 0*3 33*83 12*89 12*70 12*37 11*05 9*75 7*27 0*1.4 52*1 16*5 11*9 9*4 5*8 2*9 1*4