Dec. 14.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3207

Rules for the Management of Public Schools in the Cook Islands.

IN pursuance of the power conferred upon me by subsection (3) of section 51 of the Cook Islands Act, 1915, I, Maui Pomare, Minister for the Cook Islands, do hereby revoke the rules made on the 22nd day of August, 1919, for the management of public schools established in the Cook Islands, and do hereby make the following rules in lieu thereof.

Dated at Wellington this 11th day of December, 1922.

M. POMARE,
Minister for the Cook Islands.

RULES.

I. ADMISSION.

1. THE head teacher of every junior school shall cause to be enrolled on the register of his school the names of all children not less than six years of age and less than fourteen who are resident within the school district, and such other children of school age whose parents or guardians make application to that effect: Provided that no child not resident within the school district shall be enrolled until accommodation is provided for all the children resident within the district.

2. Attendance shall be compulsory for all children of both sexes between the ages of six years and fourteen years (both inclusive) and resident within a school district: Provided that no child suffering from an infectious or contagious disease shall during the period of infection or contagion be permitted to attend a school.

For the purpose of these regulations the limits of any school district shall be such as may be determined by the Resident Commissioner or his representative.

II. HOURS OF INSTRUCTION.

1. Every junior school shall be open for instruction for at least five hours daily, excluding all periods of recess—Saturdays, Sundays, and school holidays excepted.

2. The school day shall be divided into such sessions as may be approved of by the Resident Commissioner.

3. The time of opening and closing school each day shall be such as may be determined after consultation with the Resident Commissioner or Resident Agent, as the case may be, provided that the conditions of clauses 1 and 2 of this section be observed.

III. HOLIDAYS.

The following holidays shall be observed: All Saturdays and Sundays, the birthday of the reigning Sovereign, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Annexation Day, Arbor Day, eight weeks beginning not earlier than the first Monday nor later than the fourth Monday in December, and such other holidays as may be approved by the Resident Commissioner: Provided that the total number of holidays in any one year shall be not more than fifty-five school days.

IV. CLASSIFICATION OF PUPILS.

1. The pupils of every junior school shall be classified in seven divisions or classes—namely, Preparatory Class, Class I, Class II, Class III, Class IV, Class V, Class VI; and the subjects of instructions shall be as defined in Section V hereof.

2. The Preparatory Class will in general include those children who have been under instruction for less than one year. Class I will in general include those who have been under instruction for more than one year but for not more than two years. Similarly the remaining classes will in general include those children who have been under instruction for one year, two years, three years, four years, and five years respectively after admission to Class I.

3. The classification of a school shall be made by the head teacher, who shall have discretion to arrange his pupils according to their ability and proficiency with respect to the several subjects, but especially with respect to English, at the same time having due regard to the requirements of clause 2 of this section.

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