FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1976
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THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. COLVYN HAYE, STRESSED THAT THE NEW SYSTEM OF ALLOCATION WAS THE FAIREST AND MOST PRACTICAL WAY OF REPLACING THE S.$.E.E. IT WAS DECIDED UPON ONLY AFTER THE DEPARTMENT HAD TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE REPORT OF THE WORKING PARTY ON THE REPLACEMENT OF THE S.$.E.E., AFTER FURTHER CONSULTATION WITH MAJOR SCHOOL COUNCILS AND ASSOCIATIONS, AND AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
HE POINTED OUT THAT A PUBLIC TEST WAS STILL NECESSARY, BUT THAT THE NEW APTITUDE TEST WAS NOTHING LIKE THE FORMER S.S.E.E. IN THE FIRST PLACE, IT COULD NOT BE PREPARED FOR, AS IT HAD NO SYLLABUS, AND, APART FROM THE NEED FOR TWO OR THREE PRACTICE TESTS, WORKING THROUGH TEST PAPERS WOULD PRODUCE NO APPRECIABLE IMPROVEMENT IN PERFORMANCE. IN THE SECOND PLACE, INDIVIDUAL ALLOCATION WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED BY PERFORMANCE IN THE TEST. PUPILS IN UPPER PRIMARY FORMS COULD THEREFORE NOW CONCENTRATE ON THE BALANCED COURSE OF STUDY RECOMMENDED BY THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND SCHOOLS COULD ASSESS THEIR PUPILS ON THAT COURSE.
MR. HAYE ADDED THAT THE NEW ALLOCATION SYSTEM WOULD BE REVIEWED IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE BY 1980.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
COPIES OF A GENERAL SCHOOL CIRCULAR ARE DISTRIBUTED SEPARATELY IN THE G.I.S. PRESS BOXES.
IT IS THE FIRST OF A SERIES TO INFORM SCHOOLS OF THE GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS REGARDING THE SYSTEM OF ALLOCATION OF FORM 1 PLACES WHICH WILL REPLACE THE S.S.E.E. AFTER THAT EXAMINATION IS HELD FOR THE LAST TIME IN MAY 1977.
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