UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 221, 18 September 1930, Page 11

UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE.

ABOLISHING SCHOLARSHIPS.

OTAGO VIEWS ON AUCKLAND

CRITICISM.

FULL EVIDENCE PROPOSED

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

DUNEDIN, this day,

At a meeting of the Otago University Council the professorial board reported on the criticism of the Auckland professorial board on the portion of the 'report of the Parliamentary Recess Education Committee dealing with, the proposed abolition of University entrance scholarships.

The Auckland board had resolved that in adv.ocating the abolition of University entrance scholarships the Committee had come to a decision which was unjustified by the evidence or by existing conditions.

The Dunedin professorial board reported that it recognised that in the tmatter. of University entrance scholarships pupils of country secondary schools were at considerable disadvantage 'compared with those of tow'n schools. It strongly disapproved, however,, of the particular method which the Committee proposed to adopt for the purpose of removing this disability.

Stimulus of Scholarships. While admitting further that there might have been, through no fault of the University, undue dominance of secondary education by the requirements of the University entrance scholarships, the board contended that it did not.necesearily follow that the scholarship system was at fault. Preparation for University entrance scholarships undoubtedly stimulated to a marked degree the study of subjects which were „ prerequisites for University courses. .The discontinuance of the scholarship system would remove the element of competitive examination, which was an important inducement to individual effort on the' part of students, and would remove also the valuable criticism'of examiners who ■were experts in their respective subjects. It would, in-consequence, in the opinion of the board, react unfavourably on the standard of teaching .in schools and result i'n the less satisfactory preparation of some of the best scholars entering the University. . • . Instead of receiving through the scholarship system a small group of picked scholars, the report stated the University.' , would be' supplied with a "number of students whose training had been less thorough and less extensive in those subjects which were essential for University woi'k. Under, the proposed maintenance bursary system the University would have no voice' in the selection, of bursars, iior • any power in directing which should be followed in the more important years of; their preUniversity study.

' ... : Failure in Edinburgh.' s !." It was significant that in Edinburgh University, the report stated, it had recently bee'n found that the' nomination bursary system had failed to select the right type of student, and its . replacement by an extension .of the existing • system of competitive examination had been recommended by: the Statutory Commiseion... The proposed system of award of maintenance , bursaries would, apparently yest in the .Education Department centralised in Wellington the complete right to say whether, or !not individual students should be granted such, burVaries. It was impossible to imagine how tmder a system' of recommendation by individual inspectors bursaries could be awarded in an- impartial and democratic manner on a national basis. No special evidence on University entrance scholarships was apparently called; by the Committee, nor, it see:tied, ■were other methods considered of regulating the i disti'ibutioh of existing •scholarships, such, for example, as their division between town and country pupils or. the regulation of the amounts of scholarships according to the financial resources .of recipients. ',;•:. ■': ~'<■••■.■:■ ;

Emphatic Opinion. . board was emphatically of the opinion that before this drastic change suggested by the Committee was made the subject of legislation, full evidence should be called from all bodies .concerned. ". The report was noted.