EDUCATION SYSTEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1926, Page 4

EDUCATION SYSTEM.

SCOPE OF NEW BOARD. WELLINGTON, May 20. The preliminary step in the direction of securing better articulation between the secondary schools and the university was taken this week, when a conference of interested educational authorities drew up comprehensive recommendations in support of the proposed institution of a Secondary Schools Board.

The detail of the suggested scope of activities, which relate to a slightly wider field of operations than was lecomntended by the University Commission. were made available to-dav. After affirming that the institution of a Secondary Schools Board was necessary in the best interest of secondary and university education the conference agreed that the board should be representative of the University itself, the Education Department, secondary schools, technical schools and lion-de-parmental schools. As to its powers and functions the following were the conference recommendations: — The board shall consider all questions toffitiiig to secondary schools, studies, inspection and examination of secondary schools, public examinations pud scholarships, and shall advise the University Senate and Die Education ikvjrar.tmcnt on all those R_ shall consider questions relating to conditions for Matriculation and scholarships, and for admission to courses for degree and diplomas, and its recommendations are to be transmitted to the Senate through the Academic Board.

The condition of admission fo secondary 'and technical schools aio also to be considered. The board shall be empowered to issue from time to time courses of study adapted to the work of different types of secondary schools, the courses to be of a suggestive, and not p mandatory, nature. Powers shall be given the board to appoint standing committees for dealing with special subjects, and to appoint to them persons who possess expert knowledge of the subjects in question but who need not necessarily be members of the board. The board shall have the power to recommend to the Senate or Department the names of persons whom it considers suitable to act as examiners in the University Entrance and other public examinations, and as inspectors, or examiners, of secondary schools. It shall love power to establish and administer a system of secondary schools certificates, based partly on examinations within the schools and partly upon the recommendations of the school principals in conjunction with school records, dealing with llie progress and efficiency of the pupils concerned. The certificates are to carry the endorsement of the secondary schools inspectors, and be so adjusted in regard to flic prescription of subjects and standard of attainment required as to meet as far as possible the requirements of the entrance examinations to the University and the various public examinations at present in existence, and of any other course not provided by the existing examinations, bill' approved by the hoard.

The conference arrived at a decision hs to the method of appointment of the representatives, and made a number of recommendations for its consideration when constituted.