Annual Report Of The Commissioners Of Education In Ireland<lb/>

The number of pupils presented for the Intermediate Examinations in 1915 <lb/> was 390 out of a possible 461, or 84.5 per cent. of the Intermediate Roll. This compares<lb/> unfavourably with the 88 per cent. of 1914, and is the lowest since 1909-10, when the <lb/> percentage fell to 83.

Efficiency. —Tested by the Intermediate Examinations, the efficiency of the<lb/> Schools, taken as a whole, is creditable. Out of 390 presented for examination 271<lb/> were successful, that is the percentage of Passes is 69, as against a general percentage<lb/> for the whole country of 62. In 1914 the percentage of Passes was 68 for our special<lb/> Schools,and 59 for Irish Intermediate Schools generally.

School Premises. — The work of necessary upkeep received attention during the <lb/> year and the condition of the buildings in the case of ten of the Schools is good. In <lb/> the eleventh case, namely Cavan Royal School, it can only be said to be fair. The <lb/> grounds of St. Michael's School, Enniskillen, and of St. Patrick's Academy, Dun-<lb/> gannon, present a neglected appearance.

Qualified Schools. — We are satisfied that eleven of the twelve Schools selected by <lb/> the Local Boards of Education qualified under the Scheme, and we accepted as<lb/> evidence of this qualification the certificate of the Lord Lieutenant's Inspector (see <lb/> p. 12). The twelfth School, namely Ladies' Collegiate School, Enniskillen, failed<lb/> to qualify, and never having received a grant, it was not inspected.

Alteration of Scheme. — By an Amending Scheme, dated March 24, 1915, the<lb/> Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests, on our application, altered<lb/> the Scheme by reducing the necessary number of passes in the Intermediate Exami-<lb/> nations from seven to five. We considered this a desirable change in view of the<lb/> discontinuance of the Preparatory Grade Examinations.

Local Boards. —In accordance with Section 48 of the Scheme we received reports<lb/> from the various Local Boards of Education as to their proceedings during the<lb/> School year 1914-15. These reports were generally of a satisfactory character.

OTHER ENDOWMENTS.<lb/>

Preston Endowment. —The gross income of this endowment was £1,154 17s 3d.<lb/> as compared with £925 6s 3d for the previous year, the principal cause of the <lb/> variation being a payment in respect of an old debt on the Cappaloughlin estate. <lb/> After payment of the necessary outgoings, the following allocations were made to <lb/> the Governing Bodies of the three Schools named:—King's Hospital, Oxmantown, <lb/> £196 19s 4d; Preston School, Navan, £483 1s 1d; and Preston School, Abbeyleix, <lb/> £373 1s 8d.

Preston School, Navan.—The number on roll is 17—8 boys and 9 girls, and the<lb/> number in average attendance is 143. Six pupils were presented for the Inter-<lb/> mediate Examinations and one passed. The Lord Lieutenant's Inspector reports:—<lb/> "The Preston School has been doing good work during the past year under the present <lb/> Headmaster. He has, however, resigned the post, and the new Master will soon be <lb/> appointed."

Preston School, Abbeyleix.—The Lord Lieutenant's Inspector reports that <lb/> although the Intermediate results are poor, the educational efficiency of the School <lb/> is fairly satisfactory. Only four pupils were presented for examination, and of <lb/> these but one passed. The number on the roll was the same as that of the previous<lb/> year, namely, 20, of whom 6 were boarders. The financial position is much <lb/> improved, and it is safe to anticipate a steady and substantial reduction in the debit<lb/> balance.

Carysfort Endowment.—The Schools sharing in this endowment are Sheana,<lb/> Ballinatone, Ballycreen, Aughrim and Mucklagh National Schools, the two first <lb/> named being under Protestant, and the remaining three under Roman Catholic <lb/> management. A sum of £137 was divided equally between the two denominations. <lb/> No change has taken place in the unsuitable condition of the Mucklagh premises.

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