MATRICULATION.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20103, 5 December 1930, Page 24

MATRICULATION.

RESTRICTIONS PROPOSED. BfWCATIONISTS CONFER. (PSBBS ASSOCIATION TELKQEAM.) WELLINGTON, December 4. Steps are being taken by the Education , Department, in conjunction with educationists throughout the Dominion, to restrict the matriculation examination to those secondary school pupils who intend entering upon a course of higher education. The University College 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 senior officers of the Department and representatives of 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 •lcnown as the matriculation examination is not serving the real 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 the standard of achievement to be reached by those who desire to enter its doors. Business houses have come to regard matriculation as an essential pre-requisite of those youths or girls who seek employ-: ment after they leave school. The majority of pupils have no intention of the examination as tho key to University entrance. They regard it as a recommendation for a position in '■ommercial life.

The Alternative. The alternative proposed is that those wh£ clearly do not intend entering upon a University 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: The Department is considering the possibility ot establishing a certificate which would be awarded to pupils who have in their studies _ reached the standard of the University entrance examination. Jf this certificate is introduced, the Department hopes that business firms will consent to recognise it, as it will really be equivalent to a pass in the matriculation examination. After the deliberations or the conference have been considered by the senior officers, recommendations in regard to these certificates will be made to the Minister for Education.