NEW CERTIFICATES

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 69, 14 December 1933, Page 11

NEW CERTIFICATES

Secondary School Pupils OUTLINE BY MINISTER Further details concerning the intention of the Education Department to make provision during the coming year for the issue of a school leaving certificate were given by the Minister of Education, Hon. R. Masters, in an interview yesterday. The Minister said at the outset he wanted to make it clear that the new departure would involve no increase in the number of examinations. The Minister said that after a conference with the university authorities it had been decided to hold a school certificate examination in conjunction with and of the same standard as the present University entrance examination. There will be only one examination as at present and one fee. The requirements for University Entrance would remain as at present, and the papers in these subjects would still be set by the university. “For the purposes of the school leaving certificate, however,” he continued, “there will be a further range of subjects of a more or less practical nature, comprising such subjects as technical drawing, economics, bookkeeping, shorthand and typewriting, needlework, housecraft, technical electricity, heat engines, applied mechanics, plane trigonometry, physiology and hygiene and general biology, in which the papers will be set by the department. Examination,Requirements. “A pass in any subject at all, in compliance with the regulations, will count for the school certificate, but candidates for the University Entrance are restricted in their choice of subjects—l 9 in-number —as at present, although they may, in those subjects, qualify for the certificates as well. University Entrance will still be the concern solely of the university, whue the school certificate will be issued by the department. z “Other provisions with reference to the certificate are that a candidate must pass in English and at least four other subjects; and that a partial pass may be obtained by passing in at least four subjects, and that in any subsequent year the qualification may be completed by passing in one or more additional subjects, but this latter provision will involve the payment of some extra fee. “Further, an applicant for the certificate must have completed at least a three years’ course at an approved secondary school, technical high school, combined school, district high school, or registered private secondary school, and must have conformed to certain minimum requirements with reference to English, arithmetic or mathematics, history, and science. The certificate issued by the department will show the school or schools at which the post-p.rimary course has beep taken, and the names of the several subjects in which the applicant has qualified. Value to Young People. “It is hoped that a certificate of this nature will not only help to meet the f ngeds of various types of pupils, but will also become recognised in the business world as z a reliable evidence of attainment,” said the Minister. “Personally, I believe it will prove to be of great value to the young people, who. although they do not desire to enter a university college, must sit for the University Entrance examination ami secure a pass in order to obtain an official recognition of educational achievement.

“I am glad to say the proposal has been advocated with considerable vigour by the associations of teachers of public and private post-primary schools, and has met with the approval and co-operation of the university authorities. The first examination under the new arrangements will be held at the end of 1934..".