PROFICIENCY TESTS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 105, 27 January 1933, Page 10

PROFICIENCY TESTS

Pass Percentage Higher That the results of the proficiency examinations were a fair reply to the report made in some quarters that the Department of Education wanted to reduce the number of pupils entering secondary schools and so made the examinations harder in order that fewer certificates of proficiency would be given was the opinion expressed by members of the Taranaki Education Board at its recent meeting, after the secretary (Mr. H. W. Instill) had given a return showing the results of the recent proficiency examinations. The return showed that of the 1076 pupils who sat for the examination at the close of last year 829 secured proficiency certificates, 156 competency certificates, and 88 failed. Of 133 candidates at private schools 96 secured proficiency certificates, 21 competency certificates, and 16 failed. That made a total of 925 proficiency certificates (76.69 per cept. of passes), 179 competency certificates (14.6 per cent.), and 104 failures (8.6 per cent.). It was stated in the course of discussion that the percentage of failures was less than it was last year, when it was about 11 per cent.).