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IV. PRIVATE SCHOOLS, RURAL DISTRICT.
Subsidized Schools-Of the 96 subsidized schools on the register at the end of 1929, 16 closed during the year, and two were transferred to the non-subsidized list; but with 15 newly subsidized schools added, the number was brought up to 93 at the end of December.
The rate of subsidies has not been changed for several years; schools were subsidized with $15 to $5 per month according to their merits. 12 schools were awarded special subsidies above the ordinary scale. At the end of the year, when it was found that there was a surplus in the $15,000 subsidies vote, a number of deserving schools were given further assistance. The Shung Tak School at Taipo Market and the Chung Him Tong School at Fanling, each received an extra $300; the school at Lim Ma Hang, $150; the two schools run by the residents of Tai O $120; Wong Kwon Hing's School at Taipo Market and the two boys' schools run by the residents of Tsuen Wan $100 each; and Kan Yiu Fong's School at Fanling Village, $60. Including these special awards, the total subsidies paid out during the year amounted to $14,775. It worked out to be $4.55 per pupil.
It is deeply regretted that the teachers of the Subsidized Schools at Tai Wai, Kam Tin, and Wo Hang died during the year; the last named school managed to obtain another teacher to carry on, but the other two were obliged to close for want of teachers.
Non-Subsidized Schools-During the year 44 schools were registered, and 27 closed. 15 schools were transferred to, and 2 from, the list of Subsidized Schools. The total number of Non-subsidized Schools at the end of the year was 76 (72 in 1929).
English Night School-At the beginning of the year an English Night School at Taipo Market was registered, but its life was a short one.
School Buildings-The villagers of Sheung Tam Shui Hang, Shataukok District, spared no expense to put up a very serviceable school building of two storeys, and a new school was opened after the summer holidays. When building a new ancestral hall, the villagers of Sheung Yeung added a wing to the building to be used as a school, which, although limited in space, is nevertheless bright and well ventilated.
Attendance-In the Subsidized Schools, the maximum number of pupils on roll was 3,252 including 352 girls (4,247 with 352 girls in 1929), with an average attendance of 2,838. In the Non-Subsidized Schools the maximum number of pupils on roll was 1,597 including 137 girls (1,498 with 145 girls in 1929), and the average attendance was 1,325.