ACCREDITED STUDENTS ONLY TENTH OF UNIVERSITY “FRESHERS”

Evening Star, Issue 26185, 21 August 1947, Page 6

ACCREDITED STUDENTS ONLY TENTH OF UNIVERSITY “FRESHERS”

Students at the University of Otago, who obtained their entrance qualification by accrediting are still a relatively small proportion of tho enrolment, the total of 223 being barely 10 per cent. A sharp increase in the accredited admissions is expected within the next year or two by tho Liaison Officer, Dr B. H. Howard, who hopes then to be in a position to examine the results, and see how well the. system is working. Accrediting was introduced in New Zealand in 1944. The low enrolment of accredited students was because many of the 1947 entrants had spent two years in the sixth form after passing university entrance under the former system in 1914, Dr Howard said to the ‘ Star 1 to-day. The practice of spending a year in the upper sixth form before entering university was most commendable. All pupils in schools which could provide adequate upper, sixth courses should, if their circumstances permitted, remain for this post-uni-versity entrance year. “ Unfortunately, parents and pupils sometimes meet unofficial advisers who tell them that it is better to spend an unsuccessful year at university than to remain at school,” said Dr Howard. “ Such advice, usually given by people who do not know university conditions, should not be heeded, It is appreciated, of course, that there are often good individual reasons for coming to university from the lower sixth form,, but, in general, the longer stay at school is to be recommended, especially as an approved course in the upper sixth now carries with it an extra bursary payment of £2O a year.” It was important for parents to realise that being accredited was a privilege and not a right. For example, it was not correct to assume that a pass in the school certificate examination guaranteed that the pupil would be accredited. Further, accrediting was not granted ns a reward for hard work and conscientious application. In accrediting the school must certify that the' pupil was fit to undertake university studies, and the certificate would not be given lightly, because university work was not easy, NON-ACADEMIC GOAL.

“ There are many pupils who do thorough and commendable work, but who are not fitted for a university career,” continued'Dr Howard. “For these pupils, who will go into business and industry, the. Education Department provides the school certificate and the endorsed school certificate at the Lower Sixth Form level. Fitness to attend university must not be regarded as the final standard of general capability.” ■ It was understandable that parents should be disappointed if their children were not accredited, but the refusal to accredit must not be regarded normally as a criticism of the pupil., It indicated in most cases a doubt—sometimes certain knowledge—that the pupil was not fit for university. The examination remained as the final check on the school’s decision. The pupil 1 about whom the school was doubtful had it in his hands to* show that he was fit by passing the test. The foolishness of early specialisation in post-primary school work was stressed by Dr Howard.'- “Pupils of undoubted' ability should take as wide a course as possible,” he added. “The subjects should include English, mathematics, science, and a foreign language. If the student is of really good ability, two foreign languages are recommended.”