XN000022-1975-08-07 — Page 2

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1975

CENTRAL EXAMINATION AUTHORITY PLANNED

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THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL HAS AGREED THAT THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION SHOULD STUDY WHAT IS ENTAILED IN SETTING UP A PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY TO PLAN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTRAL EXAMINATION AUTHORITY.

APPROVAL FOR THIS EXERCISE WAS GIVEN FOLLOWING THE DIRECTOR'S REQUEST TO THE GOVERNMENT TO PROCEED ON THE LINES OF A PROPOSAL HE MADE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON APRIL 2, 1975 WHEN HE SAID

+I HAVE LONG BEEN OF THE OPINION THAT IN THIS AREA WE SHOULD MAKE EARLY AND VIGOROUS PROPOSALS TO SET UP AN INDEPENDENT EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY.

+ IT IS NO LONGER APPROPRIATE FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANISING AND RUNNING THE SSEE. THE CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION AND A HOST OF EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS INCLUDING THE GCE WHILE THE UNIVERSITIES HAVE THE BURDEN OF RUNNING THE ADVANCE LEVEL EXAMINATION AND THE MATRICULATION EXAMINATION.

+SUCH A MEASURE THE DISESTABLISHMENT OF THE EXAMINATION - WOULD HAVE TWO MAJOR DIVISION (OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT) ADVANTAGES. IT WOULD RELIEVE MY DEPARTMENT OF AN INCREASINGLY COMPLEX BODY OF TASKS AND IT WOULD EMPHASIZE THE ESSENTIAL UNITY OF EDUCATION.

+1 AM CONVINCED THAT WE HAVE REACHED A STAGE IN EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT MAKES SUCH AN ADVANCE ENTIRELY BENEFICIAL. MUCH CONSULTATION WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I HOPE TO PUT FORWARD THIS YEAR SUBSTANTIAL PROPOSALS... I WOULD NOT LIKE TO UNDERSTATE THE COMPLEXITY OF THE TASK, PARTICULARLY DURING THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD.+

IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE DIRECTOR'S PLANS WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNMENT IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS' TIME.

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