MATRICULATION EXAMINATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20337, 20 February 1928, Page 13

MATRICULATION EXAMINATIONS.

SYSTEM OF MARKING. UNIVERSITY SENATE DISCUSSION. (SPECiA r Gails Limes.) I’-SISTOHURCH, February 18. “ We have a rule and «-e must stick to it. If we refer this matter to a coinmitten for consideration we will have our uext session bombarded with letters from head teachers whose pupils have failed to pass the matriculation bv a very narrow margin,” said Mr F. Milner, rector ol the Waitnk' Boys' High School, when too Set ate of the New Zealand University was receiving a letter from a head mistress who urged that the matriculation pass he granted a pupil who had fallen by only one-fifth per cent, short of Ine 45 per cent, icijuired. Dr Right said that the Statues Committee might very well look into these particular cases. It was time to see how the new system was working out. Mr Dakewell: Under the old system ivl.cn 40 per cent, was required for a pass examiners knew that if they failed a candidate they should do so decisively and so prevent discussions. If that candidate did not get 40 per cent, or over he should not be marked higher than 38. Mr Seager: It could be done in the office now. Mr Fleming said that the whole system required reviewing. Tho present system, which required that a candidate must get a certain percentage in certain subjets, a minimum of 20 in all and an average cf 45, differed from the old system. He gave instances. Professor Hunter: Of course they conflict. We threw the old one out because we didn't like it. It meant that a scholar might he very proficient in certain subjects but miss matriculation because he could not get 40 in his,weak subject. Mr De La Mare: We won’t get any advantage out of chopping and changing. Throw it on to the secondary schools on an accrediting system. A motion that the letter be referred to the Statutes Committee for consideration was defeated, and the letter was jeceived.