Single Subject Passes Preferred

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31098, 29 June 1966, Page 22

Single Subject Passes Preferred

A preference for the present standard of School Certificate but with single subject passes was expressed by the headmistress of the Christchurch Girls’ High School (Miss P. M. Robinson) at a meeting of the board of governors. Miss Robinson said there should then be an advanced level under the Education Department and the university entrance examination should be replaced by the present bursary examination. The board discussed recent proposals to change the school certificate examination. It agreed that there should be a single subject pass and that a wider syllabus should be offered.

Dr. R. A. Copland said the certificate’s value as an indication of higher ability had diminished. Therefore, it was not a certificate of excellence as it once was. The idea of abandoning it altogether attracted him. It could be replaced with an internal examination to determine whether a pupil continued to a university entrance examination. If schools could grant higher school certificate internally there was no reason

why they could not have this responsibility also. Mrs M. B. Cox said the employers should have some aspect on which to measure an applicant. As they provided the bulk of the money for education they should have some guide.

Mr K.-Mcßeath said some of the subjects were completely unrelated to what the pupil wished to do later in life. Higher pay had to be given to those with the certificate than to those more suited to the job. Mathematics should be added as a pass subject as well as English. Mr C. L. Harper said it was desirable that some certificate of attainment should be kept for the average child to obtain as the result of good honest work without the thought of going on to university. “We must not neglect those who do not want to go on. They must be given some ticket of attainment,” he said.