Page:Adam's reports on vernacular education in Bengal and Behar, submitted to Government in 1835, 1836 and 1838.djvu/229

Rh of four years, after which they may continue to prosecute their studies as long as they please, but without that indulgence. In one of the schools under Missionary superintendence one rupee per month is allowed for the hire of a boat to bring some of the scholars over a stream and to convey them back.

The remarks respecting the school-houses in the district of Beerbhoom are generally applicable to those of Burdwan, except that in the latter I have met with more numerous instances in which school-houses have been built by general subscription amongst the parents of the scholars.

In 629 schools conducted by 639 teachers the total number of scholars is 13,190, giving to each school an average of 20.9 scholars. The average age of the whole number at the time when the different schools were visited was 9.9 years, the average age at the time when they entered school was 5.7 years, and the average age at the time when they would probably leave school was estimated to be 16.6 years. The average period passed at school would thus appear to be about eleven years.

Of the whole number of scholars 13 are Christians, 769 Musalmans, and 12,408 Hindus. The following enumeration exhibits the castes of the Hindu scholars and the number of each:—