NEW EDUCATION REGULATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11506, 19 August 1899, Page 5

NEW EDUCATION REGULATIONS.

ABOLISHING THE STANDARD PASS.

RAISING THE STANDARD FOR

EXEMPTION.

(Per United Pbess Association.)

WELLINGTON, August 18.

The outcome of the recent Educational Conference is the issue, by the Education department, of proposed new regulations for the inspection and examination of public schools. The proposals abolish the invidual pass system—that is, they give the head teacher power, with certain limitations, of deciding the class in which any pupil shall be placed, instead of leaving it to be determined by the inspector on the results of the examination held by him. On one day in the year they give to the head teacher power to arrange his pupils in different classes for tho different subjects according to their ability and proficiency in the several subjects. The latter has nominally been in force for some years, but the effect of the concession has been practically nothing, because for inspection and examination classification based upon the inspectors' examination for individual passes has been compulsory. The first proposal has been in operation for some time in Standards I and-11, and it is now proposed to extend it to Standards 111, IV, and V. The advantages claimed for the proposed new system arc: Truer classification, less risk of cram, greater liberty for attention to the real aims of education, freedom of inspectors from a large amount of unprofitable routine work, with more time to devote to the young teachers. As v safeguard it is proposed that class schedules, showing the results of the teachers' examinations, shall be countersigned by the inspector if he approves. Tho right is reserved to the inspector to examine all the pupils of any class or any school if he sees fit.

The standard for exemption is raised to Standard V, as the demand for that appears to be universal. The inspector will give certificates to all candidates in Standard V who wish to gain exemption certicates. This method is adopted in England and Scotland. The inspector may himself examine or may merely take the results of the teacher's examination at his discretion, and. he will examine all pupils i.v Standard VI, and grant certificates of proficiency. This will not interfere with freedom of classification, and certificates of pioficiency required for public departments, etc., will he given under the authority of the inspector. The distinction between pass subjects and class subjects will disappear, and both will be included under the term class subjects. In view of the approaching inclusion of manual instruction the syllabus will not be recognised at present.