UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE,

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18709, 15 May 1924, Page 8

UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE,

THE ACCREDITING SYSTEM.

FAVOURED BY TEACHERS.

RECOMMENDED TO AUTHORITIES.

fBT IXLEGBAFH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] •WELLINGTON. Wednesday.

The much discussed question whether an accrediting system should .be adopted instead of the matriculation examination was discussed by the annual meeting of the Secondary Schools Association. The matter was the subject of a report read by the secretary, Mr. F. Martyn Ecnner. According to the report the Board of Studies, in 1923, having before it the reports of the association and the Senate Committee, investigated the question of accrediting. The board agreed to the system of accrediting, but made exceptions in respect to all candidates who desired to enter the professions of law, medicine, engineering, and accountancy. The senate, realising that these exceptions would kill the whole scheme, decided to drop-it. It' agreed* later to reopen the question and discuss it with representatives of the Board of Studies, the Education Department, and the Secondary Schools Association, and on April 15, a conference was held. At this meeting the fiirst disclosure was made that the exceptions were made for statutory reasons. The British Medical Council, the British Engineering Association, etc., all demanded that a specific examination should be passed. The secretary protested at this belated disclosure, and all the association's representatives said that they did not consider these obstacles insuperable. " Then," said the speaker, " to the surprise of the association's representatives, a strong feeling of hostility became manifested against the whole system of accrediting." ' The' report then dealt in detail with the ensuing proceedings and the motions put forward. Mr. Eenner then moved: " That the Minister, the department, and the University Senate be asked to take the necessary steps to bring about an early application of the accrediting system as an alternative to the matriculation examination."

The motion was seconded by Mr. Strachan. . Mr. W. J. Morrell said he was bound in justice to his colleagues in the senate to state that the reason for this deferring of the question was made perfectly clear in press reports. It was clearly explained that the sole reason why it was considered imperative to make the recommendations that were made was the position in which the senate found itself in regard to external bodies. As stated in the papers it was the pressure of external bodies which was responsible for the situation. ..,'■","' ' The action of the senate was characterised by Mr. T. E. Cresswell as "childish." _ It listened to the man in the street instead of adopting the recommendation of authoritative persons. He thought the senate should accept accredited, as well as matriculated, candidates. The motion was carried.