SECONDARY EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20626, 26 July 1930, Page 14

SECONDARY EDUCATION.

NEW EXAMINATION PLAN.

LKAVING CERTIFICATES

FORMULATION OF- SCHEME

A condole scheme of leaving certificates, based upon special examinations, lias boon formulated I>y the Registered Secondary Schools' Association of Now Zealand, and an outlino of it lias been forwarded to tlio .Minister of Education, the. University Entrance Hoard and the Director of Educa-

The scheme provides for a Lower School Certificate and a Higher School Certificate. The recommendations are as foiiows : Lower School Certificate : (1) After a three years' course of a broad and liberal education reaching to | a standard above that at present required by the Public Service entrance examination and somewhat below that of the present University entrance examination. (2) Based on examination conducted by the department. (3] Certificates to show maiks gained in each subject—not a. pass or fail examination -and a general endorsement by the principal of pupil's school. (')) At least six subjects to be taken, of which English alone is to bo compulsory. Higher School Certificate.—(l) After a five years' course reaching a standard one year above that of present university entrance examination. (2) Examination to lie conducted by department. (3) At least six subjects to bo taken, of which English alone is to bo compulsory; selections to be made from groups. (4) A pass to be granted on satisfactory results in four subjects. (5) This certificate to be won with honours in any subject in which special papers bo taken of the standard of the present university entranco scholarship examination.

The association further recommends the department to set up a Schools' Examination Board, on the lines of that in Victoria, with equal representation of tho university, tho departmental secondary schools and registered secondary schools. Tliis board could take over the conduct of all the examinations at present conducted by the department, and would provide that link between examiners and teachers which is so greatly desired, with its attendant opportunities to review papers. The association believes that in such a board lies the remedy of most of tho present examination troubles. The association further suggests that tho University Senate, bv defining the. conditions on which it will recoirni.se the higher school certificate as a qualification for matriculation, may overcome some of its problems.

The honorary secretary of the association, Mr. Noel Gibson, stated yesterday that the scheme in all probability would solve most of the problems associated with the present examination system. A lower school certificate would probably meet the lequiremeuts of many employers, while the higher school certificate might well meet the, demands of those employers who now desired matriculation for their juniors. This would remove the Clamping effect of the present university entrance eTaminaf ion.

" f would also point out," he added, that we think there is great room for improvement in the mere te'hnicque of examinations, and the setting tip of such a board as we suggest would provide both opportunity and machinery for producing this improvement."