PROFICIENCY TESTS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 124, 21 November 1931, Page 13

PROFICIENCY TESTS

I\§R. STRONG'S STATEMENT

REPLY BY MR. M'KEEN

Mr. R. M'Keen, Labour candidate for Wellington South, to-day made a reply ti> a statement made by the Director of Education (Mr. T. B. Strong) on the subject of. proficiency examinations. Mr. M'Koeri said: — "A statement appeared in to-day's issue of 'The Post' from Mr. T. B. Strong, Director of Education, and headed, 'Keedless Alarm,' to the effect that for the purpose of this year's proficiency examinations, the syllabus will be followed entirely, and that teachers and pupils need have no fear that the markings would be more severe thau in the past. He also makes pointed reference to a statement made by me upon this subject. May 1 remind. Mr. Strong that on the discussion in Parliament on the 3rd November on the: Estimates, -which, proposed substantial reductions in education expenditure, a Labour member asked the Prime Miu-1 ister, who was in charge of the Esf.i-1 mates, whether the proposed economies would affect free places in secondary schools. The Prime Minister replied: 'The examinations will be conducted under the same regulations as last

year.' "Mr. Atmorc, the ex-Minister of Education, then asked whether it was true that instructions had been issued to mark more severely against candidates for the- proficiency certificates. If this were done it would be inside tlio regulations, but it would prevent many boys and girls obtaining secondary education.

"The Prime Minister, afler consulting Mr. Strong, replied that the mattor was under ■consideration. Does Mr. Strong wish us to believe that, his Department never intended to make the proficiency test harder? Is so, why should the Prime Minister reply that, the matter was "under consideration? Surely there was no need for any equivocation on the pnrt of the Prime Minister, because he could, there and then, have stated definitely that the free place system would not; be affected. If there is any misunderstanding in the public mind upon this question the Director of lCdueation is mainly responsible because he was the person whom the Prime Minister -consulted before he replied to Mr. Atmore's question.

"However, the Prime Minister's reply left not the slightest doubt in the minds of members that part of the economics to be effected was an attack 011 the free place system."

'J'lie International cable news appearing In thi a Issue Is published by arrangement with (he Australian I"rer>3 Association aucl tho "linn." "'Herald," Sens Office, Limited.