THE MATRICULATION EXAMINATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7726, 31 January 1905, Page 2

THE MATRICULATION EXAMINATION.

STANDARD CONSIDERED TOO* HIGH. Some remarks regarding the present standard of the matriculation examination were made by two j members of the I'niversity Senate at yesterdays sitting of that body. The Vice-Chancellor (the lloii. C. C. Howen) said that tho present tendency was to raise the standard of the examination to such an extent that the students in out.ying districts, who did not, have the advantage of the secondary schools, were unable to proceed to the University. This, he thought was to be, regretted. The standard, ho thought, should be made as low as possible, compatible with efficiency, in order that as many candidates as possible might be induced to come forward. Professor J. M. Brown said that Mr llowen was (piite correct in his remarks. He thought it would be wise to separate the matriculation examination into two parts, one to be a secondary schools' test, to be called the public schools' examination,, and the other, which might be of a slightly lower standard, to bo for the entrance to the undergraduate course. The practice of thus establishing a specific public schools' examination, apart from the university, was followed in Australia, and it might be adopted with advantage here. It would be beneficial to the public schools, and would relieve the matriculation examination of the present strain of being made to serve two purposes. Ho said that at a later stage lie might table a motion to I this effect.—New Zealand Herald.