MANY CHANGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 108, 10 May 1939, Page 12

MANY CHANGES.

'VARSITY EXTRANCE. ACCREDITING ADVISED. AN AUTHORITATIVE REPORT. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WKLT/IXOTOX. this day. Tn ,t report jusjt publMied by the Xew Zen la n<l Council fnr Educational Research, the system of entrance to the university is surveved by Mr. W. Thomae, Dr. C. K. Becby and Mr. M. H. Oram, nn-1 cmi-iderable changes, involving a full aci-rt-diting scheme, are

proposed. The predominating function of the iinivereity entrance examination hae been the maintenance of entrance standards through the selection of candidates, states the report. Unfortunately, a study of the later careers of candi,datee shows that the examination is far from eucceseful in making this selection. It fails very few who care to sit more than once, and in the group of payees studied by the council's etaff only one in three who began a degree course ever succeeded in finishing their degree. Oniy half of those -who passed the examination even began a degree course, for evidently employers use the examination ae a guarantee of a good general education in their junior employees. The restraints tTie p«Tranee examination has placed on secondary schools, l>v its, influence on the curricula and methods, have for some years [met led to a demand fur .some form of accrediting. The University Senate has itself approved of the principle of accrediting, and the evidence gathered I>v tin , Kescarrli Council's investigators has led them to recommend a complete system of accrediting from secondary schools to the university. It lias boon found, for instance, that the examination for the first section of a degree ie much more highly selective than the entrance examination, and that a large number of students who will never complete a degree are sorted out very successfully in their attempt* at a first section. In recent years the University has a*ked the schools to estimate their pupile , chances of passing the entrance examination, and It has been found that, on the whole, the schools are accurate in their estimates. Intelligence teets have not been found satisfactory ae a means of rigid selection, but taken in conjunction with other things, they ace useful in advising boys and girls on their school and university course*. Complete Accrediting. Thei authors of the report advocate complete aeerediting, their proposals being: (1) All schools should be empowered to'Rccredit pupils to the university; (2) a properly devised school record card should form the basis of accrediting; (3) the staff of secondary school inspector* should be increased from four to at least six; (4) specialised training of post-primary teachers should be .provided immediately; (■">) «'i liaison officer should be appointed in each university district. He would confer with the schools, and the University College, on the standards of work to be expected. and would help in the supervision of etudente in their first year of university work) (6) at the end of at least three years a school certificate should be granted to all pupils whose work is thoroughly satisfactory. Xo one should be admitted to the universitv without a further year'« work at school after obtaining a school certificate; (7) for the present an examination should be held for thoee who do not obtain a. school certificate by accrediting;" (3) part-time careers advieer* with special training should be appointed in every poet-primary school; (9) schools should be left as unfettered as possible in making their curricula.