ENTRANCE TO THE UNIVERSITY

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28053, 22 August 1956, Page 8

ENTRANCE TO THE UNIVERSITY

CHANCELLOR’S VIEW ON STANDARDS “SOME STUDENTS DEVELOP LATE” "The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON, August 21. “In my view, some injustice might well be done by making the entrance standard substantially more severe than it is at present,” said the Chancellor of the University of New Zealand (Sir David Smith) in his. address to the Senate this morning. “Some students develop late, and in our democracy we may prefer that they should have a second chance within the university rather than that they should be excluded altogether,” Sir David Smith said. “In any event, I think that most of those students who have failed at the end of the first year and then cease their university studies, will probably have gained some advantage from their year of study.

“Some relief would be available if the country provided further technical education suited to the capacities of those students who can pass the present university entrance examination, but who are unable to qualify for a degree. Many of these students would then probably not wish to go on to the university,” said Sir David Smith.

Although he had earlier urged the need for maintaining breadth in university education, Sir David Smith said that, to meet the national need, efforts should be made to recruit students with a special bent for scientific training. “We should try to probe as far down as practicable within the post-primary schools to find those pupils, boys and girls, who appear to possess a special aptitude for mathematics.” he said.