336
5. The expenses incurred by the Government, during the year 1886, on account of education in general, amounted (including the expenses connected with the Government Scholarship) to a total of $43,085.50 or $7.37 per head. The following details may be of interest. On the Central School with 610 scholars, the Government expended (apart from cost of buildings and repairs) the sum of $11,680.41 or $19.11 per head. The expenses of the other Government Schools, including the Aided Schools, amounted to $8,454.17 for 1,283 scholars or $6.59 per head. The Grant-in-Aid Schools with 3,951 scholars, cost the Government $14,324.76 or $3.62 per head. Further details will be found in Tables IV and XIII appended to this Report.
6. In addition to the above-mentioned 5,844 scholars attending 90 Schools under Government supervision, there were, during the year 1886, according to a census taken by the District Watchmen, as many as 106 Schools (including also Night Schools) at work in town and villages, attended by 2,088 scholars. There were also about 180 scholars under instruction in 5 private European Schools, total of scholars under instruction in Schools of all classes amounted, therefore, to 8,062 scholars distributed over 201 Schools. As the estimated population of the Colony now numbers about 181,702 souls, there were therefore 4.43 per cent. of the population enrolled in Schools of all classes. This does not favourably compare with the educational condition of England and Wales where 18 per cent. nor even with Ireland where 9 per cent. of the population attend School. But it is to be considered that we have here neither a Compulsory Education Act, nor any law providing adequate school accommodation in proportion to the population, and that a considerable proportion of the Chinese people residing in the Colony do not keep their families here but leave them on the mainland. Comparing the number of children of legal school-age (5-13 years) in England and Wales and in Ireland with the number actually in attendance, we find that in England and Wales somewhat over one half, and in Ireland less than one half, of those children who ought to attend school, actually come under instruction. Here in Hongkong, we have no exact data to ascertain the number of children in the Colony who are of the local school-age (6-16 years). By a rough but rather high estimate (See Table XVI), I calculate that there were, during the year 1886, about 18,200 children in the Colony, who were from 6 to 16 years of age. Hence we see, as there were 8,062 children actually under instruction, that the proportion of children, who actually attend school, to those who are of the proper school-age, was in Hongkong, as in Ireland, somewhat less than one half. The difference, however, is this that in Ireland accommodation is provided in the National Schools for nearly the whole number of children of the legal school-age, whilst in Hongkong the accommodation provided falls short of the requirements of actual attendance. All our Schools are overcrowded whilst there remain about 10,138 uneducated children unprovided for. I believe there would be no difficulty in inducing about one third or possibly even one half of that number to attend school by simply providing the requisite school accommodation (and teaching staff) at the expense of the Government, though the other half would probably continue to be kept from school by stress of poverty. The majority of those 10,138 children remaining uneducated are, I believe, Chinese girls, and one of the principal causes of their remaining uneducated, year by year, is the fact that the school accommodation hitherto provided by the Government Schools and Grant-in-Aid Schools is still far below the requirements of the case.
7. The proportion of girls to boys under instruction in the Schools of the Colony continues to improve from year to year slowly but steadily. That this gradual advance of female education in the Colony is entirely the result of the successful working of the Grant-in-Aid Scheme and under it due to the alacrity and continued energy with which the several Missionary Societies develop that Scheme, will be seen from the subjoined Comparative Table.
COMPARATIVE TABLE showing the growth of GRANT-IN-AID SCHOOLS and GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS in relation to the proportion of boys and girls under instruction.
Year Number of Schools Number of Scholars Year Number of Schools Number of Scholars Boys, Girls, Total Boys, Girls, Total 1873, 6 309, 133, 442 1873, 30 1,667, 171, 1,838 1874, 9 406, 226, 632 1874, 30 1,759, 172, 1,931 1875, 1875, 30 1,747, 180, 1,927 1876, 11 441, 310, 751 1876, 30 1,938, 233, 2,171 1877, 14 629, 367, 996 1877, 30 1,891, 267, 2,158 1878, 678, 343, 1,021 1878, 30 1,866, 236, 2,102 1879, 986, 431, 1,417 1879, 36 1,940, 138, 2,078 1880, 1,247, 561, 1,808 1880, 35 1,866, 120, 1,986 1881, 1,498, 739, 2,237 1881, 39 2,004, 110, 2,114 1882, 48 1,987, 1,131, 3,068 1882, 39 1,963, 117, 2,080 1883, 2,357, 1,360, 3,617 1883, 35 1,865, 113, 1,978 1884, 55 2,373, 1,534, 3,907 1884, 35 1,874, 114, 1,988 1885, 55 2,455, 1,586, 4,041 1885, 34 1,791, 102, 1,893 1886, 56 2,370, 1,581, 3,951 1886, 34 1,791, 102, 1,893From the above Table we see that in the Grant-in-Aid Schools the proportion of girls to boys has been steadily improving since 1873, and that in these Schools the girls form now nearly one half of the whole number of children in school. But although in the Grant-in-Aid Schools the normal proportion of girls and boys will in all probability be reached in a few years, the case is very different in the other Schools of the Colony. Whilst in the Grant-in-Aid Schools the proportion of girls to boys is nearly 1 to 2, it is in the Government Schools like 1 to 18. Taking further into consideration all the known private Schools in the Colony, I find there are altogether 2,138 boys and 80 girls reported as having attended private Schools, not under the supervision of the Government. Accordingly, we had, in the year 1886, altogether as many as 6,299 boys and only 1,763 girls under instruction in Schools of all classes, whilst it is pretty certain that there are nearly as many girls of the proper school-age in the Colony as there are boys. The needs of female education require therefore an extension of school accommodation. There is no room to doubt that the Grant-in-Aid Scheme, though expanding its sphere rather slowly, will gradually succeed in supplying the actual demands of female education in the Colony so far as the mass of the Chinese population is concerned.
But as regards Schools for European children, whose education requires a more expensive staff and costly house accommodation, the Grant-in-Aid Scheme does not possess the same capabilities, because the demand of such special education, though urgent, is small and hedged in by various difficulties.
8. The results of the annual examination of the Schools under the supervision of the Government will be found detailed in the Tables appended to this Report, and, as far as the Government Central School is concerned, in the Report of its Headmaster, which will be found below. A few supplementary statistical details and general observations regarding the principal Schools and Classes of Schools may be of interest.
9. The Government Central School was examined on the principles adopted several years ago and stated in former reports. The examination papers were set by the Headmaster and revised by myself. The papers of the scholars were corrected and marked by the Headmaster and then forwarded to me to form an independent opinion thereon. With the exception of the marks allotted in the case of reading and in the case of all the subjects of the Anglo-Chinese Classes, (when the Headmaster noted results in consultation with myself), the subjoined Tables exhibit the results of the examination according to the Headmaster's own valuation of the merits of each paper.
Class Total No. Passed Reading Dictation Arithmetic English Grammar Geography Map-drawing Composition History Euclid Algebra Mensuration General Intelligence I. 35 29 31 17 18 24 30 25 25 13 17 17...
336
5. The expenses incurred by the Government, during the year 1886, on account of education in general, amounted (including the expenses connected with the Government Scholarship) to a total of $43.085.50 or $7.37 per head. The following details may be of interest. On the Central School with 610 scholars. the Government expended (apart from cost of buildings and repairs) the sum of $11,680.41 or $19.11 per head. The expenses of the other Government Schools, including the Aide Schools, amounted to $8,454.17 for 1,283 scholars or $6.59 per head. The Grant-in-Aid Schools with 3.951 scholars, cost the Government $14,324.76 or $3.62 per head. Further details will be found in Tables IV and XIII appended to this Report.
The
6. In addition to the above mentioned 5,844 scholars attending 90 Schools under Government supervision, there were, during the year 1886, according to a census taken by the District Watchmen, as many as 106 Schools (including also Night Schools) at work in town and villages, attended by 2,088 scholars. There were also about 180 scholars under instruction in 5 private European Schools, total of scholars under instruction in Schools of all classes amounted, therefore. to 8,062 scholars distributed over 201 Schools. As the estimated population of the Colony now numbers about 181,702 souls, there were therefore 4.43 per cent. of the population enrolled in Schools of all classes. This does not favourably compare with the educational condition of England and Wales where 18 per cent. nor even with Ireland where 9 per cent. of the population attend School. But it is to be considered that we have here neither a Compulsory Education Act, nor any law providing adequate school accommodation in proportion to the population, and that a considerable proportion of the Chinese people residing in the Colony do not keep their families here but leave then on the mainland. Comparing the number of children of legal school-age (5-13 years) in England and Wales and in Ireland with the number actually in attendance, we find that in England and Wales somewhat over one half, and in Ireland less than one half, of those children who ought to attend school, actually come under instruction. Here in Hongkong we have no exact data to ascertain the number of children in the Colony who are of the local school-age (6-16 years). By a rough but rather high estimate (See Table XVI), I calculate that there were, during the year 1886, about 18,200 children in the Colony, who were from 6 to 16 years of age. Hence we see, as there were 8,062 children actually under instruction, that the pro- portion of children, who actually attend school, to those who are of the proper school-age, was in Hongkong, as in Ireland, somewhat less than one half. The difference, however, is this that in Ireland accommodation is provided in the National Schools for nearly the whole number of children of the legal school-age, whilst in Hongkong the accommodation provided falls short of the requirements of actual attendance. All our Schools are overcrowded whilst there remain about 10,138 uneducated children unprovided for. I believe there would be no difficulty in inducing about one third or possibly even one half of that number to attend school by simply providing the requisite school accommodation (and teaching staff) at the expense of the Government, though the other half would probably continue to be kept from school by stress of poverty. The majority of those 10,138 children remaining uneducated are, I believe, Chinese girls, and one of the principal causes of their remaining uneducated, year by year, is the fact that the school accommodation hitherto provided by the Government Schools and Grant-in-Aid Schools is still far below the requirements of the case.
7. The proportion of girls to boys under instruction in the Schools of the Colony continues to improve from year to year slowly but steadily. That this gradual advance of female education in the Colony is entirely the result of the successful working of the Grant-in-Aid Scheme and under it due to the alacrity and continued energy with which the several Missionary Societies develop that Scheme, will be seen from the subjoined Comparative Table.
COMPARATIVE TABLE showing the growth of GRANT-IN-AI SCHOOLS and GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS in relation to
the proportion of boys and girls under instruction.
From the above Table we see that in the Grant-in-Aid Schools the proportion of girls to boys has been steadily improving since 1873, and that in these Schools the girls form now nearly one half of the whole number of children in school. But although in the Grant-in-Aid Schools the normal proportion of girls and boys will in all probability be reached in a few years, the case is very different the other Schools of the Colony. Whilst in the Grant-in-Aid Schools the proportion of girls to boys is nearly 1 to 2, it is in the Government Schools like 1 to 18. Taking further into consideration all the known private Schools in the Colony, I find there are altogether 2,138 boys and 80 girls reported as having attended private Schools, not under the supervision of the Government. Accordingly we had, in the year 1886, altogether as many as 6,299 boys and only 1,763 girls under instruction in Schools of all classes. whilst it is pretty certain that there are nearly as many girls of the proper school-age in the Colony as there are boys. The needs of female education require therefore an extension of school accommodation. There is no room to doubt that the Grant-in-Aid Scheme, though expanding its sphere rather slowly, will gradually succeed in supplying the actual demands of female education in the Colony so far as the mass of the Chinese population is concerned.
But as regards Schools for European children, whose education requires a more expensive staff and costly house accommodation, the Grant-in-Aid Scheme does not possess the same capabilities, because the demand of such special education, though urgent, is small and hedged in by various difficulties,
8. The results of the annual examination of the Schools under the supervision of the Government will be found detailed in the Tables appended to this Report, and, as far as the Government Central School is concerned, in the Report of its Headmaster, which will be found below. A few supplementary statistical details and general observations regarding the principal Schools and Classes of Schools unay be of interest.
9. The Government Central School was examined on the principles adopted several years ago and stated in former reports. The examination papers were set by the Headmaster and revised by myself. The papers of the scholars were corrected and marked by the Headmaster and then forwarded to me to form an independent opinion thereon. With the exception of the marks allotted in the case of reading and in the case of all the subjects of the Anglo-Chinese Classes, (when the Headmaster note results in consultation with myself), the subjoined Tables exhibit the results of the examination according to the Headmaster's own valuation of the merits of each paper.
Class.
GOVERNMENT CENTRAL SCHOOL--NUMBER of Boys Paggen be EACH SUBJECT in 1886,
Examined.
Total No.
Passed.
Reading.
Dictation.
Arithmetic.
English.
Chinese into
Chinese.
Euglish into
Grammar.
Geography.
Map-drawing.
Composition.
History.
Euelid.
Algebra.
Mensuration.
General
Intelligence.
1.
35
29
31
1
17
18
24
30
25
25 35 32 28 23 13 17 17
Grant-in-Aid Schools.
Government Schools (including Aided Schools.)
IL,
30
2*
20
III.,.
24
18
22
Year.
Number of Schools.
Number of Scholars.
Year.
Boys.
Girls. Total.
Number of Schools.
Number of Scholars.
IV.
Boys. Girls. Total.
1873,
6
309
133
442 1873,
30
1,667
171
1874,
9
406
226
632 1874,.
30
1,759
172
1,838 1,931
VI.,
1876,
9
430
249
679
1875,
30
1,747
180
1,927 VII.,
1876,
11
441
310
701 1876,
30
1,938
233
2.171
1877,
14
629
367
996 1877,
30
1,891
267 2,148
VIII.,
1878,
678
343
1,021 1878.
30
1,866
236
1879,
986
431 1,417
1879,
1,864
2,101 179 2,048
IX
1860,
1,247
561
1,808
1880,
36
1,940
138 2,078
1881,
1,498
739
2,237 1881,
35
1,866
120
1882,
#1
1,987
1,131
3,068
1882,
39
2,004
110
1,986 2,114
X.,
1883,
48
2,357 : 1,360
3,617
1883,
39
1,963
117 2,080
XI.,
* 3 3 5 3 8 7
42
35
29
37
39
63
17
2 3 8 5 3 2 5
49
41
33
26
27
37
39
89
39
62
61
62
47
47
44
24
24
21
28
92 = 2 NE 8
26
23
23
26
19
16
!
24
29
21 19
T
18
9
9
30 35
33 83
s
37
13
87
$9
36 31
15 & C 152
28
51
38
E 4 2 2 N3
17
22
20
9
19
20
11 11
39
88
#1
33
20
33
22
32
**
20
8
21
32 30
36
237 2
¡ 40
88
128
:
32
26
:
35
89 32
36
86
38
:
52
60
59
Writing.
13
83
:
:
21
11
24
23
:
1884,
55
2,373 1,534 3,907 1884,
35
1,865
113 1,978
1885,
55
2,455 1,586 4,041 1895.
35
1,874
114 1,803
1886,
56
1 2,070
1,581
3,951 1886,
34
1,791
102 1,893
Total,... 405
384 391 332
277
310
867
266 207
249 119
60
ཟིན་
17
43
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