E.—3

In my opinion, the development of this primary division, and the maintenance thereat, by special scholarships, of many of the boys, are retrograde steps. Government provision for the primary education of the Maori child is generous and generally adequate. The energies of such a school as St. Stephen's could be better applied in the post-primary field, its task and responsibility being the provision of a generous and varied general and vocational programme, including agricultural, technical, and commercial courses. A recent development at Te Aute, and one limiting its practical, non-secular activities, is the creation of a theological department. The post-primary denominational schools for girls continue to do valuable work, but by no means to the extent desirable or possible. In some of these schools the staffing is inadequate, in regard both to number and to quality. The present teachers are, in every sense, conscientious and hardworking. It cannot be said, however, that the school authorities have adopted progressive, modern, and enlightened policies. Financial stringency appears to be the limiting factor. For the last decade, at least, the post-primary denominational schools for Maori boys and girls have been requested to broaden their curriculum, and to relate it to the needs of the Maori people, special emphasis being laid upon the desirability of providing agricultural, technical, domestic, and commercial courses. I feel constrained to report that the response to the Department's appeal has been disappointing. 10. Scholarships. In 1937, 159 Junior Scholarships were held by pupils attending boarding-schools. Secondary education for the third and fourth year was provided for 29 Maori pupils, 18 of whom held Continuation Scholarships, 6 Agricultural Scholarships, and 5 Nursing Scholarships. Six University Scholarships were current. The Junior Te Makarini Scholarship was won by Wiremu Ruka, and the Senior To Makarini Scholarship by Johnny Kaua. The Buller Scholarship was not awarded. 11. Maori Mission Schools. At the present time there are only eleven mission schools for Native children controlled and administered by denominational authorities. All these schools were visited by your Inspectors, and the reports indicated that in each case the conditions necessary for registration were satisfied. Six hundred and thirty-two children were enrolled at these mission schools. 12. Attendance. At the end of 1937, 141 Native schools were administered and maintained by the Education Department. The total roll number was 9,642 (9,175 in 1936), and the average attendance was 8,594 (8,140 in 1936). The average weekly roll number was 9,540, the percentage of regularity being 90-1. Of the 9,642 children enrolled at the 31st December, 1937, 8,553 children were Maori, the remainder (1,089) being European children. The following table shows a steady increase in the attendance at Native schools since 1912 : —

There were on the roll on the Ist July, 1937, 8,437 Maori children (7,999 in 1936) and 1,084 European children (1,099 in 1936), making a total roll number at that date of 9,521 (9,098 in 1936). 13. Staff (31st December, 1937). Four hundred and five teachers were employed of whom 235 were certificated and 170 were uncertificated. Of the total staff, 36-05 per cent, were junior assistants, 18 of whom were fully qualified teachers and 128 uncertificated. The percentage of certificated head and class teachers is now 83-8 per cent., a decrease of 0-8 per cent, for the year.

5

"•sssr A,.,.gw» Ur 1912 .. .. .. •• 4,694 4,042 4,644 1917 .. .. .. 5,173 4,507 5,191 1922 .. .. .. 6,161 5,436 6,119 1927 .. .. .. 6,620 5,816 6,655 1932 .. .. 7,313 6,848 7,524 1934 7,587 6,799 7,523 1936 9,175 8,140 9,041 1937 .. .. .. .. 9,642 8,594 9,540