§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONasked the Vice President of the Council, If he can give any estimate as to what the rate of grant paid per average attendance will be under the new Code; and, whether he thinks it will exceed or be less than the sixteen shillings estimated by the Education Office to be the sum earned this year under the present Code?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThe net earnings for 1880–1, ending the 31st of August last, were 15s. 8¼d. per day scholar in average attendance. Up to the close of the present financial year the grant will average 15s. 10d. per scholar; and in preparing the Estimates for 1882–3, we have calculated for a further increase of 2d. per head, raising the grant to 16s. We have examined more than 200 schools of every description simultaneously under the new and the existing Codes, and it gave a result of about 2d. per head in favour of the schools examined under the new Code. But as the new Code is based on average at- 17 tendance, it is quite possible that the ratio of average attendance to the number on the books may be considerably increased. This will, no doubt, be the case if managers are better supported by School Boards, School Attendance Committees, and the magistrates. In that event, the attendance of the children and the amount of the grants will be proportionately increased. As the noble Lord is aware, increased encouragement is given under the new Code for better teaching in infant schools and night schools.