PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
EPEDERIC.O. 133
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16 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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No. 50.
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GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The Report and Returns of the BOARD OF EDUCATION for the Year 1859 are published for general information.
By Order,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 5th April, 1860.
W. T. MERCER,
Colonial Secretary.
HONGKONG, 15th March, 1860.
SIR, I bave the honor to forward for the information of His Excellency the Governor the enclosed copy of the yearly Report of the Board of Education.-I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,
WILLIAM ROBINSON, Honorary Secretary.
The Hon. W. T. MERCER,
Colonial Secretary.
(Copy.)
"The Board of Education" under the circumstances of their recent constitution and appointment content themselves with a brief summary of facts in relation to the government of the Schools in the Island of Hongkong for the past year.
During the year 1859 nineteen Schools were in operation in the City of Victoria and in the principal Villages of the Island.
In these nineteen Schools twenty-one Chinese Schoolmasters and Assistants were employed, exclusive of three younger Chinese Teachers appointed to give instruction in the elements of English reading, and dividing their time between eight of the Schools in Victoria and its immediate vicinity.
The attendance of Scholars varies considerably at different parts of the year in those hamlets in which the people are chiefly engaged in fishing.
The greatest number of attendants at each School formed an aggregate of 873 boys and 64 girls, as calculated from the highest number in each month attending on any one particular occasion in each School. The average attendance of every
day throughout the year was 718.
The total expenditure of the year (as per accompanying tabular Schedule) amounting to £1,260.13.6 in which sum are included the stipend of the Inspector of Schools-£300-and some smaller sums incurred in his travelling allowances and Chinese Writer, and some disbursements on account of English and Chinese School books.
The course of instruction pursued embraces the general course of a native Chinese education in the text books of their national literature, and works prepared by Foreigners, and the New Testament and religious works in Chinese, except in cases
of individual objection from the parents of children.
Under the new system recently inaugurated the Board of Education reserves fuller particulars for their next Annual · Report to the local Government.
Signed on behalf of the Board,
(Signed,) G. VICTORIA.
True Copy,
WILLIAN ROBINSON,
Honorary Secretary.