660544-1888-Annual-Report-Central-School — Page 1

SUPPLEMENT

To the HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE of 11th February, 1888.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.--No. 62.

The following Annual Report of the Head Master of the Government Central School for 1887, which was laid before the Legislative Council on the 8th instant, is published for general information. By Command,

FREDERICK STEWART, Colonial Secretary.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 11th February, 1888.

GOVERNMENT CENTRAL SCHOOL,

HONGKONG, 16th January, 1888.

SIR,I have the honour to forward the Annual Report on this School for 1887.

1. The total number of boys on the Roll for the past year was 601. The school days numbered 234, the difference from last year being accounted for, by the four days special holiday, given by His Excellency the Governor, in November in connexion with the celebration of Her Majesty's Jubilee.

2. To illustrate the condition of the School during the last five years the following table is annexed :-

1883,

1884,

1885,

1886,

1887,

1883,

1884,

1885,

1886,

1887,

YEAR.

Total Number of Scholars.

Number of

Monthly Enrolment.

School Days.

Average Daily Attendance.

Maximum.

Minimum.

556

236

460

378

394

558

236

462

362

411

596

238

499

382

437

610

238

507

419

446

601

234

525

417

449

YEAR.

Number of School Boys Examined.

Percentage.

School

Actual, Nett

of Passes.

Fees.

Expenditure.

Average Expense of cach Scholar per

Average Daily

Attendance.

365

96.98

4,121

13,109.51

33.22

379

95.58

4,981

13,378.62

32.48

412

95.88

5,278

12,885.00

29.45

405

94.81

5,422

11,680.41

26.17

384

97.65

5,547

11,872.70

26.40

ANNUAL EXAMINATION.

3. The result of the Annual Prize Examination in English subjects, just held, is eminently satis- factory. Only 9 boys failed out of 384 examined, in other words 97 per cent passed. As this is the last Annual Examination which will be held in this school building, the history of which extends over a quarter of a century, I may be pardoned for dwelling on this signal success, which forms a fitting crown to the labours of so many years. It will be remembered that on my arrival, six

years ago, after examining the school I expressed my astonishment and gratification at the attainments in English of the Chinese, who form the vast majority of Central School boys. Since then, no stone has been left unturned, steadily and get without undue haste, to raise the standard. English Composition was introduced into the 4th class; translation from and into Chinese was made obligatory in every class; English Grammar and Geography were extended three classes lower. The result of this exten- sion is shown in the present examination; of the 314 boys examined in English Grammar 90 per cent.