THE PROPER PASSPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 40, 17 February 1939, Page 8

THE PROPER PASSPORT

In abolishing the Matriculation examination as a passport to a university career and, presumably, a professional, or commercial career also, the Senate of the University of New Zealand last month proposed to utilise an accrediting system for candidates from the secondary schools. In commenting on the Senate's decision at the time we expressed the opinion that this was, perhaps, going too far, that, while "Matric." was unsuitable as a test preparatory to entering the Public Service or the professions or business, some sort of public examination was necessary and that the accrediting system in itself would \ not prove satisfactory. For entrance to the University itself there is no reason why "Matric." should not be retained in a modified form. The headmaster of Wellington College (Mr. W. A. Armour) has put forward a scheme somewhat on the same lines, combining the school record of the student, with external examination conducted by the Education Department. He makes an excellent case for this alternative both to the University Entrance examination, as it was, and to the accrediting system accepted by the University .Senate. We are satisfied that a suitable external examination to cover the pupil's natural gifts and acquired proficiency is not beyond the power of the educational expert to devise. This would be far fairer than either "Matric." or the accrediting system alone.