O 21
The number of those who continue beyond the third year is 16% in subsidised, and 29% in non-subsidised Schools. The proportion is practically the same as last year which, I regret to say, was wrongly given as 7% and 16% instead of 16% and 29% respectively.
Scholarships.--Twenty-four free places in Government English Schools were allotted to Boys and twelve to Girls from Vernacular Schools.
Industrial Schools.--The Causeway Bay School, managed by Miss Pitts, has grown, the numbers having increased from 74 to 103. The Wesleyan Mission School in High Street remains much the same as before.
Night Schools.-16 schools closed and 14 new ones opened. The total enrolment is 523, and the average attendance 249-less than 50%.
Prosecutions.-There has been one prosecution, resulting in an unregistered school being closed.
Inspections.—While I was away on leave from February to November, Mr. Forrest took charge of subsidised schools and Mr. Yu took charge of all of Mr. Forrest's schools on the Mainland in addition to those in his own District. This, combined with the increase in the total number of schools and pupils, rendered it impossible in many cases to give schools as much attention as they required. Mr. Forrest, being new to the work and having a great many more schools than the average to look after, was not able to spare the Senior Sub-inspector enough to enable him to pay any separate visits, and by the end of November Sub-inspectors had in many cases paid only one visit to a school whereas they would have paid several in an ordinary year.
A. R. CAVALIER, Inspector of Vernacular Schools.