MATRICULATION EXAM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 441, 5 December 1930, Page 8

MATRICULATION EXAM

MOVE TOWARDS RESTRICTION CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON [Per Pre-is Association. | WELLINGTON,Dec. 4. ►Steps are being taken by the Education Department in conjunction with educationists throughout the Dominion to restrict matriculation examination to those secondary school pupils who intend entering upon a course of higher education at a university college. The proposal has been under consideration for some time and it was advanced a further stage to-day when a conference was held in Wellington between the senior officers of the Department and representatives uf the Secondary and Technical Schools Associations. Considerable importance is attached to this move in educational circles as it has long been recognised that the University entrance examination, popularly known as matriculation, is not serving the rea] purpose for which it was instituted Actually the examination is for those secondary school pupils who intend to enter a University college, and it is conducted by the University as a standard of achievement to be reached by those who desire to enter its doors. Business houses have come to regard matriculation as an essential requisite to those youths or girls "who seek employment after they leave school. The majority of pupils have no intention of treating the examination as a key to University entrance. They regard it as a recommendation for a position in commercial life. The alternative proposed is that those who clearly do not intend entering, upon a Uni-

versity career should be awarded certificates for post-primary instruction, which includes ordinary secondary and technical work.

Reference to to-day’s conference was made later by the Director of Education, Mr T. B. Strong, who said that the Department is considering the possibility of establishing a certificate which would bt awarded to pupils who have in their studies reached the standard of thp University entrance examination. Tf this certificate is introduced the Department hopes that business firms will consent to recognise it. as it will really be equivalent J o a pass in the matriculation. After the deliberations of the conference have been considered by the sen : nr officers recommendations in regard tc these certificates will be made to the Minister of Education.