PROFICIENCY EXAMS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 October 1931, Page 5

PROFICIENCY EXAMS.

MINISTER’S RE-ASSURANCE.

[PER press association.] WELLINGTON, October 30/ “Proficiency certificates will be .awarded this year in accordance with precisely the same regulations that were in operation last year,” said the Minister of Education in an interview when he denied the statement from Dunedin, that the new regulations were being introduced this year. “The tests that will be used will vary very little from those set in former years,” Mr Masters said. “In some of the subjects, the time allowed for various papers has been altered, but the content of the tests and the scale of marks have been correspondingly changed. The only real difference made in the assessment of the pupils’ work will be the* adoption of a standard of marking in spelling that was in use until two years ago. Last year the practice was to mark spelling in such a way that it was possible for a child to pass in this subject who had ten errors, as the test is not one of any great difficulty, and contains only words in common use, it was felt that it was not reasonable to allow any pupil to

pass, who made so many mistakes. The statement, in a telegram from Dunedin, that there will be no accrediting this year, and that many will fail, is surely a reflection on the judgment of the headmasters, on whom the duty falls, as recommending candidates fol’ accrediting. The Department does not think that in requiring of all candidates to face an examination will place anyone at a disadvantage. As regards the standard for a pass, the Department will, as in previous years, adopt every reasonaMe precaution to see that the work dime by the candidates, is assessed uniformly throughout the Dominion, in accordance with long-established practice. The inspectors will, In all doubtful cases, confer with the class teacher, and the head teacher before the results are determined.”