1877 — Page 223

TEACHING OF ENGLISH IN THE GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS.

The following Letters and Minutes are published for general information.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 15th February, 1878.

[No. 15.]

J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary.

HONGKONG, 28th January, 1878.

SIR,-Referring to your Letter No. 132 of the 2nd March last, informing me of the Secretary of State's approval of the proposal for introducing a system of payment by results in the Government Schools of the Colony, I have the honour to report as follows:-

The Schools ranked as very good are the-

1. Tang-lung Chau (Puntí) School.

2. Wán-tani School.

3. Stanley School.

The Schools ranked as good are the—

1. Sai Ying-p'ún (Puntí) School. 2. Há Wán School.

3. Sheung Wan School.

4. Sháu-kí Win School.

4. Girls' School.

5. Tang-lung Chau (Hákká) School.

3. Ap-li Chau School.

6. Shek-t'ong Tsúi School. 7. Ts'at Tsz-múi School.

According to this classification, 5 Masters receive $25 each,................................................................ $125.00

and 7

**

$15

"}

Total,...........

105.00

.$230.00

Letter

This payment comes under the denomination of Grants-in-Aid. I have already, in my No. 3 of 7th instant, (C. S. O. No. 38), reported that the Grants-in-Aid this year are in excess of the im voted for the purpose. I trust, however, that His Excellency the Governor, on considering the circumstances of the present year, will not object to making provision for this further sum; and I shall be glad if the Warrant for payment is issued in time to enable me to pay the Masters on the 1st proximo, before they go home for their New Year holidays.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

FREDERICK STewart, Inspector of Schools.

The Honourable J. GARDINER AUSTIN, C.M.G.,

Colonial Secretary,

fc.,

fc.,

fc.

Minute by His Excellency the Governor.

I have already sanctioned the extra payments in accordance with Mr. STEWART's recommendation, subject to the approval of the Legislative Council.

On visiting some of these Village Schools, I found the Schoolmasters could not speak a word of English, and as far as I could ascertain, none of the pupils had any knowledge of English.

be

Possibly, in some of the Government Schools 1 have not yet been able to visit, there may instruction in English; I should therefore be glad if Mr. STEWART would make out a list of the Schoolmasters of the Village Schools, marking in each case, those who can teach English, and those

who cannot.

English.

Also the total number of pupils in each Village School, and the number in each that can speak

J. POPE HENNESSY.

29th January, 1878.