New Certificate Of Education

Press, Volume C, Issue 29651, 23 October 1961, Page 13

New Certificate Of Education

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, October 22. “A new form of certificate, to be called the Certificate of Education, will be issued to some of the pupiis sitting this year’s School Certificate examination,” said the Minister of Education (Mr Tennent) today. “The new certificate will be awarded to those who, while not succesful in qualifying for the School Certificate, perform creditably in some subjects in the examination. “It will certify that the holder has had at least three years’ post-primary education, and will show’ the subjects of the School Certificate examination in which the candidate gains 30 per cent, or more of the possible marks.” “The degree of success in each subject will be shown in four grades.”

The new certificate is being introduced as a result of a recommendation of the School Certificate review committee which sat last year. The committee said that up to one-third of all fifth form pupils now left school after three or four years of post-primary education without any official recognition of their attainment. It is at present possible for a candidate to perform creditably in as many as three, or possibly four subjects yet fail the School Certificate examination as a whole. “This certificate,” said the Minister, “will be concrete evidence of the holder's postprimary education and of his performance in individual subjects studied. “It should be of great practical value to prospective employers as well as a source of satisfaction to the holder,” he said.