1863 — Page 128

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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PLLC.O. 133

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

No. 22.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

The following Report of the Board of Education for 1863, is published for general information.

By Order,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 26th January, 1864.

To His Excellency

WILLIAM THOMas Mencer, Esquire,

Acting Governor of Hongkong.

W. H. ALEXANDER, Acting Colonial Secretary.

Honarona, 20th January, 1854.

1. The Board of Education, in presenting to Your Excellency their Annual Report of the state of the Government Free Day schools in the Island of Hongkong, desire in the first place to make reference to some of the recommendations contained in their last Year's Report.

2. Among the measures then suggested for the improvement of the Schools they made prominent mention of the expedi ency of discontioning the four Government Schools in the small outlying villages of Sai-wan, Show-kawan, Shek-O and little Hongkong; and of employing the pecuniary means thus placed at their disposal in giving increased efficiency to the Schools in Victoria and its immediate vicinity.

8. They are happy to learn from the Reports of the English Head-master and Inspector, Mr. Stewart, that this measure has had the desired effect of awakening a spirit of healthy emulation among the Native School-masters, of promoting an increased attendance in most of the other Schools, and of causing a more general appreciation of the advantage of free educk- tion among the Chinese parents,

The School houses in the four villages from which the Government aid was thus withdrawn, were handed over under certain conditions free of rent and for Educational purposes only to the inhabitants, by whom they were gladly received. In the late Government School-house at Show-kewan a school is selfsupported and carried on indipendently of Government aid. The three other villages also engaged to elect and support a master in their respective Schools; but the Board are not in pos- session of facts sufficient to enable them to report on the efficiency of their present management,

5. The establishment of different gradations of rank and pay among the Government School-masters alluded to in the last Report of the Board, has also been carried into effect. The institution of two classes of School-masters has been attended with its expected advantages in raising the position and exciting the deligence of the Native teachers.

6. The Board cannot report any decided increase in the attendance of Scholars. This may in part be attributed to the stricter surveillance exercised over the masters and the additional security thereby afforded for the greater securacy of the School roils. It is, however, a satisfactory result that after making allowance for the suppressed Schools and the reduced number in the Central School through the working of the new regulations, the aggregate number of enrolled Scholars has equalled and the actual attendance fins even exceeded that of the preceding Year.

The Girls' School in Victoria has greatly fluctuated in the number of Scholars, and the master has not given uniform satisfaction to the Board; but with increased surveillance better results may be expected

7. The Central School, under the new system of management introduced in the beginning of the year and the efficient superintendence of Mr. Stewart, appears to be steadily growing in favour with the more respectable classen of Chicans. The system of payment introduced into the English department is working well. The whole sum received during the past year from the Scholars amounted to three hundred and eighty eight dollars.

The activity, order and discipline maintained in the daily routine of its management deserve also special notice and mention. 8. The Board learn, indirectly but with satisfaction, that Mr. Stewart's arduous duties are likely to be lightened by the early arrival of an Assistant English Master; by whose help the efficiency of the Central School is likely to be increased, and nearly a hundred new pupils may be admitted.

9. While on the one baad the Board are unable to report to Your Excellency that the aggregate attendance of scholars in the various Government Schools is at present adequate to the expectations which might have been formed; yet, on the other hand, they are able to state that in the more truthful returns of the daily attendance of scholars, and in the higher quality and tone of instruction conveyed they have matter for congratulation and grounds of encouragement.

10. A tabular statement of the comparative number of scholars in the various schools during the two past years is appended to this Report.

11. In conclusion the Board have much satisfaction in expressing their high sense of the able, zealous and successful services rendered by Mr. Stewart to the cause of Education in the Colony.

On behalf of the Board.

G. VICTORIA,

Chairman,

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