E.—l

23

These figures include a number of European children (837 in 1928) 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 13,977, compared with 13,505 at the close of the previous year. The average yearly attendance at Native village schools was maintained at a creditably high percentage (88-1) 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 533 pupils, of whom 150 held Government scholarships. In addition, five Maoris held scholarships at Victoria University College, Otago University, and Canterbury College, taking courses in arts, theology, medicine, and forestry, and five Maoris held agricultural scholarships at Te Ante College. JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS. The number of post-primary schools (sometimes called junior high schools) in operation during the year was the same as in the previous year —namely, eight. No new junior high schools were opened during the year. A new secondary school —Rongotai Boys' College—was, however, opened at Wellington, and, as the available accommodation at the school was in excess of that required for the time being for secondary pupils, it was decided to admit meantime boys of Standard VI from neighbouring schools. Owing to this unusual constitution the junior department of the school, which is designated Form 11, is for statistical purposes being treated as a junior high school, and details regarding it are therefore included in the following tables regarding junior high schools. The total number of children enrolled at junior high schools (including Rongotai Boys' College) at the end of 1928 was 2,280, as against 2,290 in the previous year. Information regarding the attendance and classification of pupils in attendance at junior high schools in 1928 is shown in the following tables :■ —

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

■« Ig fg 53 gj Classification of Pupils on Roll as at 30th June, 1928. «a> -lg 2 —j —: r|d S §i " r • w v, q v. i 8 f » °8c$ Form I. Form II. I Form III. All Forms. Junior High School, jjg Jfl | ~ af" ■§■§ a» - | g [J? ts 13 " S Boys. Girls. Boys. : Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. .(a) Whangarei .. 291 178 290 276 76 57 87 70 * * 163 127 290 (c) Kowhai .. 888 409 805 813 183 155 202 170 74 89 459 414 873 (c) Northcote .. 300 151 265 268-9 72 57 57 61 18 26 147 144 291 (ft) Matamata .. 164 100 147 143-9 45 34 42 37 f t 87 71 158 (a) Kotorua .. 132 82 134 121-2 45 31 33 27 * * 78 58 136 (d) Rongotai . . 81 82 78 75 .. . . 80 80 .. 80 (a) Marlborough 246 124 242 224-7 58 56 72 61 * * 130 117 247 (a) Waitaki Boys' 181 109 179 169-6 95 .. 86 .. * * 181 .. 181 (a) Waitaki Girls' 132 77 140 129-1 .. 72 .. 67 * * .. 139 139 Totals, 1928 2,415 1,312 2,280 2,221-4 574 462 659 493 92 115 1,3251,0702,395 Totals, 1927 1,057 1,546 2,290 2,216 635 519 576 532 63 75 1,2741,1262,400 Difference.. 1,358 -234 -10 5-4 —61 -57 83 -39 29 40 51 -56 -5 (a) These schools are senior high schools to which junior departments consisting of Standard V and Standard VI pupils have been attached. They are sometimes called junior-senior high schools. (b) A district high school including a primary school department up to Standard IV, a junior high school or junior secondary department consisting of the former Standard V and Standard VI pupils, and a senior high school or senior secondary department. (r.) These schools are separate junior high schools including the former Standard V and Standard VI pupils and also a small Form III or the lowest form of the senior high school. (d) A senior secondary school to which boys of Standard VI are admitted. * Number of Form III pupils included in the statistics for secondary schools. t Number of Form III pupils included in the statistics for district high schools.