TESTING OF SCHOLARS

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1930, Page 9

TESTING OF SCHOLARS

FAULTS OF MATRICULATION.

SCHOOL CERTIFICATE URGED.

A. school certificate, to be awarded by examination at the end of three and five years of secondary school work, in place of the matriculation examination, was advocated by the. Rev. H. K.- Archdall, headmaster of King’s College, at the school speech day. , . , . Mr. Arclidall said that while he recognised’ matriculation had won for itself wide public support as emanating from the university, it was-not an entirely suitable examination for the mass of the pupils, who were not destined to enter the J university.' It would be quite possible to grant entrance to' the university on the : higher leaving certificate if certain subjects, were passed at certain standards to satisfy the needs of different faculties. J During' the past two years the proposal of accrediting had been brought forward, but it had met with widespread criticism. It was pleasing to note that the Education Department had recently called a conference of State and ndn-State schools to consider the setting-up of ’school certificates by examination. It was also pleasing to note that at the present time the academic board of the university had under consideration a similar proposal. Mr. Archdall strongly urged that the university should give the lead to the whole community on this important question, otherwise the proposal might produce change rather than progress, “The university is the custodian of the standard of education in the community, and it must take the lead in such movements,” he said. “It must also be prepared for far more consultation with the heads of the schools, State and nonState, than has been the custom heretofore. The school certificate examination would. comprise a wide choice of subjects over and above those required for the university- entrance.”

Mr. Archdall added that his ideas on these subjects were in substance those of the Registered, Secondary Schools’ Association, which comprised 54 nonState secondary schools.