School Cert. Proposal

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31223, 22 November 1966, Page 1

School Cert. Proposal

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 21. Copies of a new scheme for the school certificate examination, sent out by the Education Department, were in the hands of headmasters, but he had yet to see a copy, the president of the Post-Primary Teachers’ Association (Mr J. S. Webster) said in Wellington today. He said the association opposed the earlier proposal by the Minister of Education (Mr

Kinsella) that students be allowed to sit one, two, or three subjects. “Three subjects are not enough to give a student a good, general education,” Mr Webster said.

“We believe that flrst-year candidates should sit either four or five subjects. Second year candidates can sit as many as they like.” The association approved single-subject examinations, but believed in a minimum of four for flrst-year candidates, Mr Webster said. The association also believed that any new examination should consist of English, a science, history or geography, and one or two other subjects.

Mr Webster said he did not approve the examination being accredited.

"Sitting the examination and passing it is a goal for students to achieve on their own. Accrediting presents too many problems over marginal candidates.” A record of 39,773 school certificate candidates began examinations today. Some 38,411 candidates are sitting the full four or five-

paper examination, 1002 are sitting single papers, and 360 are sitting for a certificate of attainment.

Geography, with 26,457 candidates, is the most popular subject, followed by mathematics (20,962), and general science (18,112).