121
Entry to Class I.
Exemption from Matricula-
tion.
Appointment
of
Examiners
On the other hand, greater freedom in the require- ments of the Certificate examination ought not to imply any lowering of the standards of effort and progress required by the school itself. Students (and their parents) must not be allowed to feel that it will be a sufficient claim to promotion merely to be capable by the end of the year of obtaining a certificate; possibly by passing in one subject only.
Since the award of a certificate of some kind will, under the proposed conditions, be almost certain for all pupils who enter Class II, promotion into that class should in future have no reference to the probability of success or failure in the coming examination; but should be determined, by the Head and staff concerned, solely cccording to the capacity of the pupil to benefit (in an educational sense) from the work of the higher class, his age and other relevant circumstances being taken into account.
We suggest that, at this stage of school life, a pass in English should be required before promotion; apart from this we would lay down only the general rule, that no pupil should be promoted whose standard of work is so low as to be a drag on the rest of the class.
9.
We have recommended that the examination, in fulfilling its primary function as a test of attainment at the end of a normal school life, should involve no element of compulsion; but this will of course no longer hold good when it is considered as a qualifying test, to determine fitness for a given future career. Satisfactory performance in specified subjects will then normally be required.
In particular, pupils who wish to enter a Matriculation class will need to show that they are capable of reaching the required standard in the subjects compulsory for that examination.
Where there is an alternative Class I, of a vocational or less academic type, entry to it would naturally not be subject to this requirement.
10.
We consider it possible that, after completion of the syllabuses, the University of Hong Kong may be prepared to grant exemption from their Matriculation Examination to candidates with sufficiently high performance in stated subjects. We suggest that this possibility be explored; and further, that consideration be given to the question of using the examination as a qualification for entry to N.T.C.
11.
We feel it fitting to recommend here that every effort be made to secure uniformity from year to year in standards both of setting and marking. It appears to us desirable, if it can be realized in practice, to preserve continuity in panels of examiners by a system of rotation, under which only a certain proportion of each panel retires annually, the others romaining.
We also very strongly recommend that no teacher be appointed to set a paper in a subject which he is himself teaching in Class II.
Colonial Office,
Victoria Chambers,
15, Victoria Street,
London, S...
20th July, 1948.