WELLINGTON GIRLS' COLLEGE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 122, 9 February 1918, Page 3

WELLINGTON GIRLS' COLLEGE

.—4 ..THE SELECTION OF PUPILS. . 'Complaint has heen made that certain girls whose parents wished them to enter the Wellington Girls' College have heen excluded owing to lack of accommodation, and that the basis of selection has been age, not merit or priority of enrolment. A reporter who made inquiries on the subject learned that it was a fact tho college had not been ablo to receive all the girls .who applied for places. But the selection was made in strict accordance with tho rules laid down by the Education Department. Preference was given to girls Hinder thirteen years or age on December 1 last if they held proficiency certificates, since these girls can bo given the full three years' course. Girls over thirteen years of ago wore taken in order of merit as disclosed by the marks awarded by the inspectors in tho examinations foj. proficiency certificates. ' Payment did not secure priority. Girls from. Petone_ and Lower Hutt ■were refused admission, in accordance with the instructions of the Department, since .they could receive secondary* instruction in the schools of their own districts. It was pointed out, moreover, that girls over thirteen years of age could attend the Technical College or the Normal District High School. " Suggestions have been made for. the enlargement of the Girls' College, but proposals in this direction have not the approval of the-educational authorities. The experts believe that the college is at present as large as the claims of efficiency will admit, and that any additional demand for secondary .education should be met elsewhere.