O 9
It is a common practice among writers and speakers on educational subjects to depreciate examinations. But there is at present nothing to take their place and they are likely to form part of educational machinery for some time to come. Nor do I think there is anything intrinsically vicious about them but they are liable to abuse. The results of the examinations among the private unaided schools reveal a serious misuse of the Local Examinations and especially of the Junior Local.
It will be seen that ten of these schools have secured 21 passes out of 151 candidates who sat for the examinations. But though this represents a pitiful waste of energy, I am not so concerned about the high percentage of failures as about the low numbers entering from individual schools. The selection of a few candidates who are optimistically supposed to have a chance of passing is contrary to the object of the examinations, which are only of value if every boy or girl from the appropriate class is entered for them.
(ii) Every year all the boys in Class 4 at Queen's College, King's College and the Government "District Schools", viz. Ellis Kadoorie School, Yaumati School, Wantsai School and the Indian School, sit for an examination conducted jointly by the head masters of these institutions, and boys from this class in these schools do not gain admission to the three senior classes of Queen's College and King's College by any other means.
This year, of 324 Class 4 boys, 274 or 80% passed. Four schools were above the average and two below.
This examination has been found very useful. A constant standard is attained and the senior classes are not flooded with entrants who have procured promotion by examinations of varying quality. It may be found advisable to throw this examination open so that boys attending schools which do not maintain secondary departments or schools which endeavour to do so with inadequate staffs may have an opportunity of continuing their education.
(iii) From time to time, as application is made, examinations of the University of London are held at the Education Office. In 1929 there were two Matriculation examinations, one in January and one in June.
These examinations do not form any part of the educational system of the Colony but are arranged for the convenience of the public.
(iv). Two examinations of the Royal Sanitary Institute were held during the year.
(v) One teacher sat for the Teachers' Certificate examination of the National Froebel Union.
O 9
It is a common practice among writers and speakers on educational subjects to depreciate examinations. But there is ut present nothing to take their place and they are likely to form part of educational machinery for some time to come. Nor do I think there is anything intrinsically vicious about them but they are liable to abuse. The results of the examina- tions among the private unaided schools reveal a serious misuse of the Local Examinations and especially of the Junior Local.
It will be seen that ten of these schools have secured 21 passes out of 151 candidates who sat for the examinations. But though this represents a pitiful waste of energy, I am not so concerned about the high percentage of failures as about the low numbers entering from individual schools. The selection
of a few candidates who are optimistically supposed to have a chance of passing is contrary to the object of the examinations, which are only of value if every boy or girl from the appropriate class is entered for them.
(ii) Every year all the boys in Class 4 at Queen's College, King's College and the Government "District Schools", viz. Ellis Kadoorie School, Yaumati School, Wantsai School and the Indian School, sit for an examination conducted jointly by the head masters of these institutions, and boys from this class in these schools do not gain admission to the three senior classes of Queen's College and King's College by any other means.
This year, of 324 Class 4 boys, 274 or 80% passed. Four schools were above the average and two below.
This examination has been found very useful. A constant standard is attained and the senior classes are not flooded with entrants who have procured promotion by examinations of vary- ing quality. It may be found advisable to throw this examina- tion open so that boys attending schools which do not maintain secondary departments or schools which endeavour to do so with inadequate staffs may have an opportunity of continuing their education.
(iii) From time to time, as application is made, examina- tions of the University of London are held at the Education Office. In 1929 there were two Matriculation examinations, one in January and one in June.
These examinations do not form anv part of the educational system of the Colony but are arranged for the convenience of the public.
(iv). Two examinations of the Royal Sanitary Institute were held during the year.
(v) One teacher sat for the Teachers' Certificate examina- tion of the National Froebel Union.
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