EXAMINATION TESTS

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1932, Page 9

EXAMINATION TESTS

SYSTEM CRITICISED. UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE. ’ ? *; v ? - r '-\ 4 • * •>- • - ?•'»,•••. :• “W'e 'hifd hoped that the urge of external examinations was ceasing to dominate our educational system,” said Miss V. M. Greig, principal of the Wellington Girls’ College,;, in; the coUrge of her report on the work of the year at the annual breaking-up cereniony on Saturday. “We afb sorry that our girls, many of whom ayeu suffering as the result of the present depression,' have had to sit for the Education Department’s examination for senior free,places, but wq feel confident that the department, *as it has done for some years past, will give due consideration to pupils whose work, conduct and attendance over a period of two years have ; been considered satisfactory by the head teacher . and the staff. -" > ■ ■ “A far more "serious matter to many parents and' pupils this year is the closing of the door of free education at the University to the holders, of higher leaving certificates. Only those who qualify on the credit list in the University entrance scholarship examination or who pass part of that examination under certain’ ’toridiiidng’are now eligible for bursaries,, should -money for such be available,, and some girls who had begun their course with training college entrance . and higher. leaving certificate bursary in view have had to change their

plans and sit for the entrance scholar- " ship examination. Hard,though this may' seem to those concerned, we do recognise that New Zealand, is passing through abnormal times and that with the financial situation as it is had not the Education Department approached the Minister with -some such proposal for making provision for. even a limited number of' bursaries? even" the brightest pupils, unless they won scholarships, would have had no opportunity of trying to qualify for free University education.” Reference to the holding of the senior free place examinations was also made by the principal of the Wellington East Girls’ College (Miss Batham) at the prizegiving ceremony to-day. Miss Batham said that the examinations had interferedwith the regular Work of the school, and she hoped that the course adopted would not be followed too often,, as there was too much extra Work-for the staff at the ehd of the school year.