REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.
(Tables I, II, IV, VI, VII, and VIII.)
After deducting the school fees received, the total nett expenditure on education was $242,359 ($216,848 in 1914). This is the largest amount spent in any year on education in the Colony. The increase is mainly in connection with the Ellis Kadoorie School, which was taken over by the Department at the beginning of the year.
2. The ratio which expenditure on education bears to the total revenue of the Colony is 2.08 (2·03 in 1914, the lowest figure since 1906).
3. School and Technical Institute fees amounting to $85,713 were collected, ($75,792 in 1914). The increase is due to the Ellis Kadoorie School. In addition $3,823.50 fees were remitted to free scholars, ($3,566 in 1914).
4. The cost of the Government Schools is compared in Table I with the average of preceding years.
CLASSIFICATION OF SCHOOLS.
5. The Classification of Schools is that explained in paragraph 4 of my report for last year.
SCHOOLS TO WHICH THE ORDINANCE DOES NOT APPLY.
GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS.
(Table I.)
6. Kowloon and Victoria British Schools.--The average attendance was 131 (107 in 1914). By the beginning of the year, both schools had outgrown their accommodation and were overcrowded. At Kowloon School the living rooms have since been converted into additional classrooms and the lavatory accommodation has been considerably improved. The matshed has been done away with. At Victoria School one of the living rooms has been turned into a classroom.
7. The usual medical examination of pupils has been made. Some improvement is shown in the teeth of the children, which are however still very defective, notwithstanding frequent appeals to the parents to have them properly treated. The general health has been good.
8. Classes 1 and 2 are now prepared as units for the University Senior and Junior Locals.
9. A system of individual monthly reports has been introduced, the object being to interest the parents in the work of their children, and to keep them informed of their progress. In order to secure the further co-operation of the parents, home work books have also been provided, in which parents are asked to state the length of time devoted to home work each day. Both innovations have had a very good effect.