17

E.—l

NATIVE SCHOOLS. At the end of 1926 there were 130 Native village schools under the direct control of the Department for the primary education of Maori children in districts principally settled by Natives. In addition there were eight primary and twelve secondary (boarding) schools controlled by various religious organizations. Maoris are also admitted to the ordinary public schools—and in fact the number attending these schools is greater than the number in attendance at Native schools. The following table shows the number of schools with the enrolment at the end of 1925 and at the end of 1926 : —

These figures include a number of European children (835 in 1926) who attend Native village schools, and if these be deducted the enrolment of Native children in primary schools at the end of last year becomes 13,137, compared with 12,531 at the close of the previous year. The average yearly attendance at Native village schools was maintained at a creditably high percentage (89-8) of the average weekly enrolment. Boarding-schools for the secondary education of Maoris have been established by religious bodies, and the Government provides a number of scholarships tenable at these schools, which are inspected by the Department's officers. There were twelve schools at the end of last year with an enrolment of 570 pupils, of whom 145 held Government scholarships. In addition, ten Maoris held scholarships at Otago University and Canterbury College, taking courses in arts, theology, medicine, law, and dentistry. JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS. There were six junior high schools in operation during the year —viz. : Whangarei, Kowhai, Northcote, Matamata, Waitaki Boys', and Waitaki Girls'. Information regarding the pupils in attendance at these schools and the destination of pupils who left the schools last year is contained in the following tables : —

Roll Number and Classification of Pupils in Attendance at Junior High Schools.

* School first opened February, 1926. f These schools are attached to secondary schools, and the pupils who would otherwise proceed to Form 111 enter instead the lower forms of such secondary schools. J In this case the third-year pupils enter the secondary department of the Matamata District High School, to which school the junior high school is attached.

3—E. 1

Schools. Roll, 1925. Roll, 1926. Native village schools .. .. .. .. 130 6,386 6,591 Mission schools (primary) . . .. . . .. 8 366 364 Public schools with Native children enrolled .. .. 740 6,576 7.017 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 878 13,.328 13,972 j

*0"" 2 'o ® § ' ' I .?§ fig ® Form I. | Form IT. I Form III. i AH Forms. gf« Is § |g j .... j..,..... ! Junior High School, h 3 o» 2 SP Si A § a3d j i r~ J5 Bo rt £ ' ji -d il o | ! a Jj § ;$ g Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. H II 1 ! j Whangarei .. Nil* 340 306 298 89 80 67 70 f f 156 150 306 Kowhai .. 495 443 827 818 184 199 180 157 48 59 412 415 827 Northcote .. 153 184 291 280 77 68 59 57 15 15 151 140 291 Matamata .. 113 I 103 149 144 45 36 36 32 J J 81 68 149 Waitaki Boys' .. 80 110 179 167 96 .. 83 .. f f .. 179 Waitaki Girls' .. 67 j 82 135 131 .. 71 ,. 64 f t • ■ 135 135 Totals .. 908|1,262 1,887 1,838 491 454 425 380 63 j 74 979 | 908 1,887 !__ _J I I K