3
years ago. The desire for a knowledge of English is by no means adequately shown in this Table, as the English Schools are full and turning away candidates for admission.
8. The increase in Vernacular Education in the year under review is striking, but is partially explained by the fact that more schools in the New Territories have come under the hands of the Department.
9. The combined average attendance at the 3 British Schools, 163, was the same as in 1919. There was a falling off in attendance at the Peak School, for reasons probably connected with the very great difficulty which was experienced in maintaining the Staff. The Victoria School also showed a falling off, partly the cause and partly the consequence of a decision to confine it to girls and small boys. The Kowloon School on the other hand began at the end of the year to grow exceedingly, and beyond its seating accommodation.
10. The total number of pupils at schools in the Colony excluding the Police School and the uncontrolled schools in the New Territories are:-
Number of Pupils in
Total. English Schools, Vernacular Schools.
* Government Schools 2,929 2,929 * Military Schools 145 145 * Excluded Private Schools.. 121 26 147 * Grant Schools 2,330 3,409 5,739 Controlled Private Schools 3,679 13,719 17,398 † Controlled Private Schools, New Territories 1,761 1,761 Technical Institute 588 588 Total.. 9,792 18,915 28,707* Average attendance.
† Total enrolment.
11. This is an increase of 2,921 over 1919, the increase in pupils in English Schools being 647 and in the Vernacular Schools, 2,274.
EDUCATION IN ENGLISH.
12. The writer has now completed his 20th year in the Department and a very brief comparison of the general development in that period may perhaps be allowed. Twenty years ago, our effort in English education was largely meaningless, because the teaching of spoken English was almost entirely neglected. The standard reached by a few pupils, as shown by the Oxford Local results was.