U.E. replacement praised

Press, 11 October 1986, Page 34

U.E. replacement praised

PA Wellington Secondary school principals in the Wellington region have praised the replacement of the University Entrance examination with Sixth Form Certificate, but many are not happy with the grading system that goes with it. Each Sixth-form pupil this year will get a certificate saying he or she has completed the year, and giving a grade between one and nine.

Each school is given a range of grades to apply, which are tied to last year’s School Certificate results.

The acting principal of Wellington East Girls’ College, Mrs Joyce Wilson, said that while most people believed that there should be some form of national moderation, it was difficult to decide what would be best.

“It’s hard on the practically based subjects, where the pupil might 1

develop skills, but not be academically inclined — while the grades we have been allocated still reflect academic achievement in School Certificate,” Mrs Wilson said.

The principal of Porirua College, Mr John Moir, said the pre-deter-mined range of grades worked against pupils with language deprivation.

“The kids would warrant better grades than they will achieve, and that is because of the grades allocated,” he said. “A substantial number of the students here don’t have English as their first language, and don’t have English books available at home, so they don’t get the same encouragement in English as in other subjects. That has a harmful effect on grades overall.”

Mr Moir said, however that the certificate was an improvement on University Entrance, because

pupils could tackle subjects more relevant to their daily lives. Porirua College offered sixth-formers courses in computer studies and horticulture this year, and Mr Moir said courses planned for next year included electronics and practical • music.

Taita College offered a new Form 6 course this year too, said its principal, Mr Bob Wilson. Outdoor education was a superb course, because it taught sports administration skills as well as tramping, ski-ing and bush survival, he said. Mr Wilson said the relation between School Certificate and Sixth Form Certificate would be a limiting factor.

“It doesn’t take into account subjects like outdoor physical education, which is disappointing. Students get a lot of benefit from such courses.”

Mr Lionel Perris, of the

Education Department’s examination and assessment unit, said a committee of inquiry had already signalled that the linkage between the two ought to go, but had acknowledged it could not be done immediately. “The committee took the view that it is not wise to move into another system of moderation of grades before all the alternatives have been thoroughly investigated,” he said. Mr Perris said it was important that the currency of certificates was the same, no matter what school they come from. "Otherwise the grades given will be treated differently by employers or tertiary institutions, depending on what they think of the. school in question,” he said. Principals said that another problem with the new. system was punil and teacher stress — but this

was identified as ’’teething troubles” by most.

“In some cases teachers have been so anxious to be fair, they have overassessed, and the students have been worked harder than usual,” said the principal of Newlands College, Mr Paul Richardson. “But we are looking on it as a learning experience, and I am confident we will be able to avoid the problem next year.” Principals interviewed about the new-look certificate said 1986 has seen sixth-formers working harder through the year, and were unanimous in hailing it as an advance. “There is no doubt the average student does better under this system,” said the principal of Wainuiomata College, Mr Trevor Langley. "Sitting examinations may be a good skill, but it is not the only one relevant to employers.”