EXAMINATION SICKNESS

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1931, Page 7

EXAMINATION SICKNESS

CANDIDATES BREAK DOWN j

' ' — r ! SCHEME TO GRANT PASS DEGREES

DIVIDED OPINION IN THE SENATE

By Telegraph.—Press Association

Auckland, Last Night. The University Senate has had befoie it applications on behalf of several students who on account of illness havo been unable to sit for the whole 01 part of their annual examinations. A proposal to grant aegrotat passes under careful safeguards to such students was submitted to the senate by Mr. W. J. Morrell, of Otago. Mr. Morrell. moved that in all university examinations for the degree 3 of 8.A., B.Sc., M-A-, M.Sc., and M.H.Sc.; a candidate who shall have completed not less than half the total number of papers for the examination, but has. been prevented by serious illness from sitting for one or more of the papers be granted an aegrotat pass, subject to the following conditions: (a) That' the candidate’s responsible teacher j in the subject or subjects, of the papers missed certify that his .woik therein ■ was- -well above the minimum pass standard and that had he been ible to sit he would in their opinion undoubtedly have secured a pass on those papers; (b) that the award o an aegrotat pass be recommended by the professorial board of the candidates college; (c) that his performance in the papers actually complete<jjjs - well above the minimum standard of a pass; (d) that the fact of his inability to sit through such serious illness be established by medical to the satisfaction of the chancellor or vicechancellor. , . ■ Mr. Morrell said that during the recent examinations in Dunedin three women students had broken doown in one day. The motion -would apply also to men, but in facing examinations women felt more sense or strain than did the average man. Both at Oxford ana at Cambridge University aegrotat passes had been given for a* very long time. He knew himself of Oxford men of real distinction who had taken an aegrotat degree. He had not included professional degrees in his motion because they appeared to be in a somewhat dif% ferent position. The Hon.l J. A. Hanan opposed the motion on the ground that it was the thin end of the wedge and would lead to further concessions. , x . . Professor H. W. Segar said that when the principle of an aegrotat pass in terms examinations was introduced it was a long time before an application was made, but once one was granted they immediately began to increase, and now there was a /torrent of these applications every year. A member: Are they all granted?

Professor- Segar: JTearly all. Professor’ 4 Segar added that he attached practically no importance to a medical*certificate. The case of those who hrdved'the examination though unfit to do so ought to be provided for. The matter was referred to a committee to report to th© senate.