Sessional_Paper_1902 — Page 485

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52. The maximum Grant obtainable should be $18 for every scholar, reckoning by the average attendance.

The Grant earned last year in these schools amounted on an average to $6.48, reckoning by the average attendance.

Of the existing schools none have higher Standards than the Fourth, with the exception of the Roman Catholic Cathedral School which takes scholars up to the Fifth. In fixing the Grant it is assumed that it will be paid in full only to schools where a fair proportion of boys are in the highest Standards. The increased expen- diture caused by the engagement of English masters and of better qualified Chinese masters fully justifies the proposed increase in the Grant.

VERNACULAR GRANT SCHOOLS.

53. The Vernacular Grant Schools for Boys are not at all in a satisfactory condition; nor is any very material improvement likely to take place, until more thorough supervision can be given them by the Managers. It is not, however, proposed to disestablish them: they should be retained as a framework on which to build an improved system. All that cau profitably be attempted for the present is to weed out some of the less competent masters.

54. The maximum Grant obtainable should be $7 for each scholar, reckoning by the average attendance.

This is the same Grant as can be earned under the present Code by a school in which a fair proportion of the children are in the upper Standards. No increase is needed, since the additional revenue gained by charging appropriate fees will, it is hoped, be sufficient to attract a superior class of master. (See Part V, Fees.)

GRANTS IN AID OF RENT.

55. A Grant equal to two-thirds of the rent paid should be made to schools occupying leased premises.

The present Grant in aid of rent is 30% of the rent of the school quarters. It was authorised only two years ago and has been of service, but has proved inadequate to redress the disadvantage incident to schools in densely populated districts.

BUILDING GRANTS.

56. The instability of Grant Schools, especially the Vernacular Schools, arises from their being too often housed in premises leased from month to month. No increase in the Grant in aid of rent will remedy this state of affairs. But Managers have no encouragement to erect permanent school-buildings unless they can feel assured of liberal assistance from the Government. The provisions of the Code (Appendix B. Section 27) governing Building Grants appear to be satisfac- tory, but the sum now voted for this purpose ($3,000 for three years) is insufficient.

THE CODE.

57. It is not the purpose of the Committee to draw up a new Code, but only to indicate what its general character should be.

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The existing Code which will be found in Appendix B is based on the first local Code of 1872, and is now out of date. Its principal shortcomings are enu- merated below, the references being to the sections of the Code.

Section 1a and b-As stated above, these restrictions, that schools shall' be public and not carried on with a view to private emolument, are unnecessary.

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