EXAMS. AND AFTER.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 927, 23 November 1933, Page 5

EXAMS. AND AFTER.

Proficiency Tests in New Zealand. PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN. There are now in progress throughout New Zealand schools the proficiency certificate examinations—success in which stamps our boys and girls with the hall-mark of the primary education system. Judged merely by the standard of numbers, this examination is the most important of all conducted by the Education Department. Approximately 25,000 children sit for it annually. A few years ago the majority of the certificates granted were awarded on the accrediting system, the pupils being examined and recommended by their own headmasters, but in the #ast three years all candidates have had to face the special papers set by the department itstlf, and to justify themselves according to its standards. In I 1931 these standards, according to the ! iudgment of many teachers, were much higher than formerly, with the result that of 25,128 primary school children who sat, only 16,492 secured the coveted proficiency certificate. Last year, when the papers were less exacting, the Standard VI. children made a much better showing, 19,559 i certificates (an increase of 3000) being awarded to 25,275 entrants. This examination of a juvenile army corps is no light task, and it keeps the inspectorate throughout the Dominion at top pressure for a full month or more. Children in remote country schools who desire to sit fpr the examination are assembled in suitable centres (at their own cost of transport), and there the tests are carried out under specially appointed supervisors, usually the most experienced teachers of a group of schools, and the papers

are forwarded to the district inspectors for marking. This “ synchronous examination ” for small country schools occurs throughout the Canterbury district—in fact, throughout the whole of New Zealand—on November 30. The larger urban and rural schools receive personal visits from inspectors at fixed examination dates, so that daily, until the last week of the school year, children who are concluding their primary school courses, will have one day of ordeal, to be followed by jubilation—or sorrow, and the inevitable explanations at home.

What becomes of this body of 25,000 juveniles turned loose from our primary system each year? The Education Department makes inquiries regarding the probable destinations of those who leave the public primary schools, but, judging from the tables in the report of the Minister of Education, does not follow the same procedure regarding the large number leaving denominational and other private primary institutions, who are included in the 25,000 odd. Of the 11,197 boys who left the State schools last year, 5947, or more than half, continued at post-primary schools; 22 went direct to clerical work, 283 to shops or warehouses, 248 to trades, 2711 to agricultural occupations, 639 to miscellaneous occupations, 1107 remained at home, and the destinations of 240 were unknown. Of the 10,269 girls who left the State schools in the same year, 5248 went on to postprimary schools, 15 found direct clerical employment, 143 went to shops, 44 to trades, 215 to agricultural occupations, 376 to miscellaneous work, 182 were unaccounted for, and 4046 stayed at home. Thus was distributed the big yearly child output from the schools, but it must be remembered that the “ remained at home ” figures for both boys and girls would fall rapidly as the year wore on. The statistics are collected in February. Very many children have to wait months after that date before securing employment.