HIGH SCHOOLS

Otago Witness, Issue 3442, 2 March 1920, Page 27

HIGH SCHOOLS

RECENT EXAMINATION RESULTS.

The High School Board of Governors appointed a committee at its meeting last week to consider whether the results secured by pupils of the schools at reoanc examinations might be regarded as satisfactory. The report furnished by the Rector of the Boys High School contained the following information: Eleven boys went up ior University ( en» trance scholarships. O. R. Davis gained the fourth of the 10 junior University, scholarships, while H. S. Wilkinson ana* K. W. Miller were respectively first _ and second among the University national scholars, who came next on the list. All the remaining eight obtained "credit" though six were attempting the examination foT the first time. The number of candidates sent up by tho school for matriculation and allied examinations was unpreciedently large—namely, 74. Of these 41 were successful, 16 passing medical preliminary and solicitors' general examination besides matriculation, 10 matriculation and solicitors' general, and six matriculation alone, while nine completed matriculation or one of the. professional preliminaries. Sixteen obtained partial passes, and 17 failed. The unusually large proportion of partial passes was due mainly to the ex-' oassive difficulty of the French paper, which had been a matter of general remark, and pointed onco more to the need rf a more effective system of "moderation" of the papers set in the matriculation examination. In all the circumstances, the rector suggested, the total proportion of passes (66 per cent.) might bo considered quite satisfactory. 'For the senior national scholarships the school sent up 35 candidates, of whom fi\e gained scholarships, 18 passed (two with credit), and 10 failed. All< the latter had, however, qualified for senior free places on their year's work. The number and general calibre -of the boys going up for the public service entrance examination had of late fallen off considerably, owing no doubt in large measure to the acceptance of matriculation as a qualification. Only 11 entered from the school,'of -whom eight passed and thre« failed. . Of 11 candidates for junior national scholarships five gained scholarships, and the remaining six also passed the examination. The total number of candidates for examinations of. all standards was 265. Of this number 152 were successful, including those exempted from sitting for the senior free place examination' on the rector's recommendation, as confirmed _by the department's inspectors; 28 gained partial passes (including those who failed for senior scholarships, etc., -and "were granted senior free places);-nine qualified for a third year of the junior , free _place; and 45 failed. The general proportion of passes was 73 per cent., as against 70 per'"'cent, in 1917, and 75 per cent, in 1916. Owing to the influenza epidemic of 1918 the figures for that year could not well be compared. The year's results, though not reaching the level attained for some years before the war, were, in the rector's judgment, quite satisfactory in view of the unexampled difficulties under which the working of the school Waa conducted last year. They • give, ample proof that, in spite of these difficulties, a_ good standard of work was maintained in i senior and junior classes alike.

The Principal of the Girls' School stated in her report that seven pupils had sat for the junior national scholarship examination, of whom five passed and two, B. M. Collier and H. I\i'Guire, gained scholarships the former beinjr placed equal of all the girl competitors in Otago. Eighteen girls were candidates for the senior national scholarships of the Education Department. M. M. Coutts gained a scholarship, 10 passed (four with credit) the examination, and seven failed. Twelve girls who had not been recommended for senior free places passed the intermediate examination, and thus gained senior free places. Twenty-one girls sat for the Public Service entrance examination, of whom 15 passed, M. Baird being placed fourth of the candidate's i. the dominion,, and sis failed. Seventy-two girls entered for tha matriculation examination. Thirty-four passed, of whom seven qualified also for the soVcitors' general knowledge examination, and 17 for the medical preliminary in addition; 18 gained partial passes, and 20 failed. Of six girls who had to complete matriculation by passing in one subject five were successful. There were only two candidates for tha junior University scholarship examination, the school dux, contrary to the ■usual custom, deciding, not to compete. The candidates had not reached the standard of the examination in their work, and did not .succeed in gaining credit, but merely mafricu!ated on tha scholarship papers. . Twenty-two girls_ re» ceived pupil teacherships, and 13 obtained probatiorierships.