COMMENT FROM THE CAPITAL SCHOOL CERTIFICATE CHANGE WILL CREATE NEW PROBLEMS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31375, 22 May 1967, Page 10

COMMENT FROM THE CAPITAL SCHOOL CERTIFICATE CHANGE WILL CREATE NEW PROBLEMS

(From Our Own Reporter)

Wellington, May 21.—Few examinations have drawn so much fire over the years as the School Certificate. It is interesting to note, however, that proposals for its amendment or replacement have been under active study for more than 18 months.

This should have been known to the former Secretary of Industries and Commerce (Dr. W. B. Sutch) who declared recently that the examination should be abolished. It might also have been known to some members of Parliament who referred to the examination recently in disparaging terms.

The subject was put in perspective last Thursday night by the Minister of Education (Mr Kinsella), one of the last speakers in the Address-in-Reply debate.

“One member described the School Certificate as a national disaster,” Mr Kinsella said. “I would not go quite as far as that, but I agree that the School Certificate examination as it is today no longer suits the needs of the community or of the schools. “The School Certificate examination was brought into being in New Zealand at a time when the greater proportion of those who attended secondary school were of an academic type. They were a selected group. “Today the situation is entirely different, and the School Certificate examination as it is at present has outlived its usefulness. Minister’s Proposal “In November, 1965, I called representatives of the post-primary teachers’ association into my office and put forward a proposal for the amendment of the School Certificate examination. It was a tentative proposal for discussion, and since then discussions have been going on with all sections of the community concerned with education.

“These are becoming crystallised into a more solid form. I hope that within the next few months the discussions will be finalised, and that by the beginning of next year we can begin on a new type of School Certificate examination. “I had in mind an examination based upon a core of subjects which evejy pupil must take, and which need not necessarily be examined. This core of subjects would be the basic subjects of education, and every child in the school would require to take those subjects for a certain number of years. “After that, of course, a child may take a number of subjects ranging from one to six for the School Certificate examination. It has not been decided whether or not the examination will retain its present name, but the desire is to make provision, not only for the very bright child and to extend him by giving him a larger number of subjects, but also to make provision for the child not so academically inclined to leave school with some evidence that he has achieved a certain standard. “In other words, the value of the certificate will depend on the results inscribed on it At present, every School Certificate is regarded as of equal value by employers. In actual fact we agree that it is not.” The New Examination

The assistant DirectorGeneral of the Department of Education (Mr J. L. Hunter) has confirmed that the task of ascertaining views and reconstructing the examination

is well forward, and that it is hoped to be in use next year.

“I am quite sure, however, that we shall not be able to reach a completely satisfactory solution, however it is done,” Mr Hunter said. “Much depends on the attitude of the various bodies involved, and on their views as to the most important aims,” he added. The new plah is now ready to go back to the parentteachers’ associations and other bodies for final discussion. In the last 18 months it has been examined at all levels, most recently by a committee of post-primary principals.

Here are some general lines which have been followed:— 1. The new examination—which may continue to be called the School Certificate—will be a single-subject examination. This means that the subjects are treated individually, and that the basic 200-mark requirement will be abandoned.

2. Each subject passed at first sitting will be credited and will not require to be sat again. 3. The certificate will show clearly which subjects the student has passed in, up to six in number.

4. Having passed some subjects in the one year, the student can spend a second year in improving his qualification for others.

Once these principles have been accepted, several difficulties will remain. How, for instance, can a pupil’s candidature for the Sixth Form be determined under the new system? What will constitute a “pass” for the purpose of continuing the education process?

“Some of the faults of the present system were closely related to this,” Mr Hunter said in answer to questions. “Under the old, or present system, each subject had to be given an equal valuation. Latin, and, for instance, instrumental drawing were valued equally for the purpose of assessing progress in relation to that 200-mark line.

“The new system allows each subject to be marked according to its individual worth—but there may still be disagreement as to what constitutes a pass to Sixth Form standard."

Possibly the greatest problem to be overcome is that of administration. All discussions held so far Indicate that the extra burden thrown on school and district staffs

will be quite considerable, and there is believed to be some resistance at this point. The Gifted Child

Some regret is felt that an original provision, designed to assist the gifted child, has had to be abandoned. This provided for a basic two-hour examination in each subject, with a separate section requiring another hour. The separate section was appended so that any candidate desirous of taking the test could continue with the extra questions. It is understood that educational authorities, while approving of the idea, thought that it would be unwise to add this complication at the earlier stage. As the new system develops, special consideration may be given to the requirements of the gifted child. Why Piggy?

When Victoria University students christened the Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon) “Piggy" during Capping Week they mystified many people within the Parliamentary precincts. Mr Muldoon is not porcine in appearance or in manner. He is usually courteous and helpful to newspaper reporters and others requiring information; and he has shown no sign of being personally greedy for reward or privilege.

Students who prepared placards and issued buttonholes with the legend “Piggy Muldoon for King” can offer no explanation, except that “it seemed to be a good gag at the time.” The only explanation for the name is offered by a university authority, who explains that “after all, Mr Muldoon is in charge of the country's piggy-bank.” Whatever the reason, the Minister of Finance today is a much quieter, less ebullient man than the “Rob” Muldoon of last year, when his quickness in debate and obvious joy in wordy combat earned for him the title of “Holyoake’s Hatchet-man.” Last week he even let pass the opportunity of speaking in the evening during the Address - in - Reply debate. Those who enjoy hearing him in full cry against the Opposition are hoping that he is making no conscious attempt to change bis image. The old one, they say, was very welcome in a House not overfilled with “characters."