TO START IN 1941

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 99, 21 January 1943, Page 4

TO START IN 1941

Changes In Admission To University APPROVAL BY SENATE (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, January 20. Important changes in the method o£ exam tiling candidates for admission to the university were approved by the Senate today. The new scheme, which is expected to operate in .1044, makes provision for an entrance examination which will be of a scope and standard appropriate to several university courses and not less than four years of satisfactory post-primary education shall be demanded before the candidate is accredited for entrance.

Entrance may be granted by way of accrediting by schools which are included on a list drawn up by the university in consultation with Hie Department of Education. In the first instance, the accrediting list shall include only schools of undoubted suitability and the system will be reviewed after experience of its working. No school shall be placed on the list without the Consent of the governing body. An entrance examination will be held for those who have not been accredited for entrance, and such examination will be restricted to those who attain 10 years not later than December 31 of the year in which the examination is taken.

The main points in the new scheme werq contained in a report from the Entrance Board, which was adopted by the Senate. The report stated: “That the board does not approve of different types of entrance examination requirements for different faculties; that the board approves of the suggestion that the entrance examination should consist of three subjects at the higher standard for those candidates qualified for the school certificate and three subjects at the higher and two at the certificate standard for those who have not so qualified, provided that all candidates shall have qualified In English at either the higher or lower standard; that chemistry and home science be alternatives; that botany and zoology may both be presented ; that in each science subject the minimum a,mount of time devoted to practical work be 90 hours; that no special mathematics paper be required of candidates for engineering preliminary, the content of the ordinary mathematics paper being sufficient for this purpose.” The Entrance Board further suggested that, in order to promote the closest co-operation 'between the university and approved schools, there should be at least one liaison officer appointed by each university college, who should be given such status and functions within the college (for example, associate professor) and in schools (for example, inspectorial rank) as will enable him to report and advise on accrediting as it affects both Ibe university and schools.