Exam. Change Proposed

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31975, 30 April 1969, Page 26

Exam. Change Proposed

(N Z Press Association) WELLINGTON, April. 29. i A former executive member of the Secondary Schools’ Board Association, Mr R. C. Lawry, of Marlborough, has I sent to all college boards proposals for reconstructing secondary school examinations.

Mr Lawry, of Waimea College Board, has proposed that university entrance be changed and a different emphasis be placed on it. Instead of it being a hurdle to be attempted by a large proportion of the pupils or a goal marking the end of a school career, it must become more truly a university entrance examination.

The examination should be restricted almost solely to those intending to go to university.

At the end of three years school certificate should be taken in its present form with single subject passes by external examination. Mr Lawry believes it is

important to have a wide range of subjects available to pupils at this level. After four years pupils should take a sixth form certificate, a standard similar to the present university entrance by internal accrediting. There should also be a wide range of subjects at this level.

Those in the upper sixth form intending to go to university should take a single external examination, the results of which will determine the holders of scholarships, bursaries and university entrance.

Mr Lawry suggests that the top 100 students be granted a scholarship. An “A" bursary would go to those who get 60 per cent, and a “B” bursary to those who get 50 per cent. University Entrance would be set at 200, with passes in five subjects, including English. The advantage of these proposals, says Mr Lawry, is that the system would increase the importance of sixth form certificate, it would ensure a more uniform standard of entrance into the university.

It would also benefit the community by restricting entry to the university to

the more mature, able and better qualified, thus making expensive university facilities available to those best able to benefit from them.