Standard Tests For Primary Schools

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30626, 17 December 1964, Page 13

Standard Tests For Primary Schools

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 16. “The New Zealand Council for Education Research has accepted the Government’s invitation to develop standardised tests of attainment for use in primary schools," said the director of the council (Mr G. W. Parky) today.

“To carry out this work, the council will set up a test development division. It will prepare the tests in very close co-operation with classroom teachers. “The essential purpose of the tests is to enable teachers to estimate how far they are succeeding in teaching their pupils what they are trying to teach, and to identify those pupils in need of remedial treatment,” said Mr Parkyn. “The success of the project will depend largely upon the establishment of effective working arrangements between the council, the department, the education boards and the teachers, and to facilitate this a representative standing committee will be set up to advise the department and the council on matters of general policy concerning the preparation and use of the tests. Considerable Task

“The construction of suitable tests based upon New Zealand syllabuses will be a task of some magnitude, especially because we shall not merely re-vamp overseas tests but will start from the beginning and make tests that will measure what our New Zealand teachers are trying to teach. “The council now has to find suitable staff and to arrange for their specialised training, before the actual work of construction can begin,” said Mr Parkyn. “I would estimate the first tests will be ready for use in schools three years after the test development division has been established.” Mr Parkyn said although the development of the tests of attainment in primary school subjects, as envisaged by the Commission on Edu-

cation, would be the first task of the test development division this would not be its only work.

“In addition, as time went on, it would probably construct tests of scholastic aptitude, diagnostic tests, and tests for use at other levels of the education system,”- he said.