Rules For Certificate Of Attainment

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30042, 29 January 1963, Page 9

Rules For Certificate Of Attainment

The issue of a School Certificate is not only evidence that a pupil has satisfied certain examination requirements, it also testifies to his having completed a satisfactory course of instruction at a post-primary school, says the Director of Education (Mr A. E. Campbell), replying to a letter to the editor of "The Press.”

The correspondent, G. Kaiser, wrote: “A Certificate of Attainment is awarded to the school certificate candidate who has not completed three years at an approved secondary school. He may have been promoted too rapidly or have had a period of illness or have attended an English school. The unfortunate student may get over 200 marks in four subjects including English, but this is not enough—he must get at least 250 marks in five subjects. He cannot have a Tailing’ subject if he is to pass. Next year he cannot be accredited with U.E. but must sit the examination. Even if he is successful, a year later he is barred from receiving the higher school certificate and the bursary tor university. The bright student can get this bursary with a credit pass in the scholarship examination, so it is the good average student who suffers. Why is time spent at school more important than the standard achieved?”

Mr Campbell replies that normally the issue of a School Certificate involves at least three years’ instruction in certain specified subjects in a New Zealand postprimary school, but the Director of Education may accept a course of instruction that

he considers equivalent which has been completed in whole or in part outside New Zealand.

“The Certificate of Attainment is provided for those candidates who do not satisfy these requirements, end the additional subject is demanded to compensate for the non-fulfilment of any of the basic requirements of a School Certificate.

“It is not correct to say that a candidate who takes Certificate of Attainment will necessarily be debarred in the * following year from being accredited tor entrance to a university. He may have completed three years’ «econdary education but not have satisfied the core' requirements. In such a cue he will be eligible for consideration

by his principal for accrediting.

“University Entrance is, of course, governed by quite separate university regulations. Amendments introduced this year will permit wider discretion to the University Grants Committee to accept for accrediting pupils who were previously debarred on a time basis.

“It is true that the Higher School Certificate (and the university bursary attaching to it) require* five years’ attendance at school, except for those who gain a credit pass in the scholarship examination, tor whom a fouryear course only is required. This concession is intended to assist the bright student For the not-so-bright pupil the full five-year*' course Is deemed desirable to equip the pupil for subeequent university study."