The supervision of the Council's primary schools is undertaken by Mr. H. C. Chen, M.A., Chinese Education Officer, who reports:—The total enrolment of the six primary schools for the Spring and Autumn terms was 4509 and 1,343 respectively. The outbreak of hostilities was responsible for the unusually low enrolment in the Autumn Term.
With the exception of the Boone Road school the curriculum consists of a six-year course of study based on the code issued by the Ministry of Education, with a kindergarten of one or more classes attached. The Boone Raad school is of the simplified type and is intended for poor children of either sex between the ages of seven and twelve years who are unable to attend a full-time school. Classes are arranged on a half-time basis, one group of pupils attending in the morning and another in the afternoon for a session of three hours and a half daily. The curriculum provides for a four- r course of studies in essential subjects including reading. writing, arithmetic, composition, common knowledge. physical training, art and singing Judged by the large enrolment during the past year this simplified type of school definitely meets the needs of a large section of the Chinese community.
On the outbreak of hostilities inj August four of the six primary school buildings w located within the zone of hostilities while the Cunningham Road School was immediately adjacent to this area. None of the Council's primary schools was however available as two schools were utilized for hospital or billetting purposes. Leased premises were ac-
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