A NEW SYSTEM

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 142, 13 December 1933, Page 10

A NEW SYSTEM

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

LEAVING CERTIFICATES

TO ISSUE NEXT YEAR

An elaboration of his statement in Auckland that it was the intention of the Education Department to rnako provision during the coming year for the issue of a school leaving certificates was given to a "Post" reporter today; by the Minister of Education (the Hon. B. Masters). "At the outset," said the Minister, "I want to make it quite clear that tha new departure will involve no increase in the number of examinations. After conference with the University authorities it has 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 will remain as at present, and the papers in these subjects will still ba set by the University. "For the purposes of the school leaving certificate, however, there will bi 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 tlia Department. PROVISIONS OF EXAMINATION. "A pass in any subject at all, in compliance with the regulations, will count for the school certificate, but candidate* for the University Entrance are restricted in their choice of subjects— 19 in number—as at present, although they may, in those subjects, qualify for the certificate as well. University. Entrance will still be the concern solely of the university, while the school certificate will be issued by the department. "Other provisions with reference to tho certificate are that a candidate must pass in English and at least four other subjects; and that a partial pass may bo obtained by passing in at least four subjects, and that in uny subsequent year the qualification, may bo completed by passing in one- or mora 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 sc.hool, 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 postprimary courso has been taken, and the names of the several subjects in which the applicant has qualified. TIEST TEST NEXT YEAR. "It is hoped that a certificate of thii. nature will not only help to meet the needs of various types of pupils, but will also become recognised in the business world as a reliable evidence 'of attainment," said the , "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 Entranco examination and 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 tho 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 tha end of 1934."