EDUCATION REFORM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1620, 5 October 1916, Page 3

EDUCATION REFORM.

, STIFFENING UP TEST. PROFICIENCY AND COMPETENCY CERTIFICATES. The Minister for Education (Hon. J. A. Hanan) has approved of amended regulations for certificates of j proficiency and competency in Standard (5 of our public schools. The purposes of the amendments, the Minister explains, are to require a somewhat higher standard of qualification for these certificates, more especially in English. Under the previous conditions, it was possible for candidates who were weak in either reading or composition to obtain certificates of proficiency, and thus to gain admission as free pupils into our secondary schools, though they were not qualified to derive full beneiit or real value from the instruction there. Under the revised regulations, though the total percentage required for a pass is not increased, every successful candidate must, qualify in both reading and composition, and must satisfy the inspectors that be can read intelligently, express bis thoughts clearly, and write a satisfactory composition on a. familiar topic. The Minister is strongly of the opinion that pupils should be trained in habits of correct speech, as exhibited in reading aloud, as well as to grasp and express the thought of the subject matter of the passage read; hence the emphasis to be placed on the value of English in the proficiency certificate. The new regulation is as follows: — A certificate of proficiency shall be a cartilieate of good attainment in the subjects of the Sixth Standard. A certificate of proficiency shall be awarded to a candidate who:

(a) Obtains not less than sixty per cent, of the possible aggregate of marks in English

and arithmetic together, including' not less than fifty per cent, in each of the subjects

reading and composition respectively, and not less than forty per cent, in arithmetic;

mid (b) Has received sufficient instruction in the other subjects as prescribed by these regulations and satisfies the inspector that he has reached a satisfactory standard of attainment in at least three of the subjects —(1) geography, (2) history and civics, (3) drawing, (4) handwork, (5) elementary science;

Provided that in no case shall any such certificates be awarded lo a candidate who fails Lo give evidence of good intelligence in reading. CERTIPICATE Of COMPETENCY.

Eor a certificate of competency in the past the marks required in English and arithmetic together were only 40 per cent., and the certificate has consequently been frequently referred to as a “certificate of incompetency.” It has therefore been decided to increase the percentage of marks required to 50 per cent., with 50 per cent, in reading and including not less than 50 per cent, in composition and 30 per cent, in arithmetic, or not less than 40 per cent, in composition and 50 per cent, in arithmetic. In addition, candidates must reach a satisfactory standard in at least three of the subjects geography, history, handwork', drawing and elementary science. It will thus be seen that Tor a certificate of competency weakness in only one of the essential subjects must be compensated for by corresponding strength in the others.

The certificate of competency is to be regarded as the ordinary pass in the work of the sixth standard and the certificate of proficiency as a creditable pass.