MATRICULATION CHANGES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 17, 20 January 1940, Page 10

MATRICULATION CHANGES

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—ln this tinie of national and economic stress, it is amazing to find the Senate of the University of New Zealand coming forward with proposals that will involve the country in large additional expenditure and increase the burden of most parents with children at college. At present it is possible for a child to sit for the Matriculation examination after three years at a college or high school, and large numbers are successful. Under the Senate's proposals as reported the child must be kept at college for at least four years. If he or she is not then accredited and is not 16 years of age by December 31 of the year in which the examination takes place, another year has to be spent at school or the child is faced with the difficult task of completing the examination after a year at work.

The present is no time to increase the burden of the large number of parents, widows, and others who are struggling to give children an education. It is therefore to be hoped that the Government will immediately decide against the present proposals and state for the information of parents that it has done so. The proposals are not in accordance with' the policy of opening the doors of the university, and may close them' to a great number. To keep a child at college for an extra year costs at least £150. so the increased cost to a man with a family will be great.

f The right should be retained for any child to sit for the Matriculation examination at any age and at the end of the third year at college. This would be an incentive to an industrious child. Apart from this the examination is only the entrance to one of the professions, courses for which are being continually extended at the expense of the student and parent. It seems unnecessary to also extend or increase the standard for Matriculation at the present time. —I am, etc.,

PARENT,