AGY-1977 | Board of Examiners [Department of Public Instruction]

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The University (Amendment) Act, 1912, established the Leaving Certificate which was to be recognised as the qualification for matriculation. This was a departure from previous practice in which the Universities conducted their own examinations for entrance. The certificate described as 'the first of its kind in Australia' (1) therefore marked the first link between the public school system and the University. (2) Success in the Leaving Certificate resulted in 'exhibitions' (or offers of places at University). The examination also served as the entry qualification to other forms of vocational education including technical and teachers' colleges.

The first Leaving Certificate examination commenced on 24 November, 1913. The Report of the Minister of Public Instruction for the year 1913 lauded the new examination as follows "The qualification requiring the completion of four years' course of secondary education before the Leaving Certificate can be gained must of necessity eliminate to a great extent the evils of cramming, while the fact that a definite degree of efficiency is required in every subject of the course studied must result in students attaining an all-round education, leaving specialization to a later stage of their educational career." (3)

A Board of Examiners comprising not less than eight persons was appointed by the Governor to oversee the content and standards of the new examinations. The Board set Regulations for Intermediate and Leaving Certificates, appointed examiners, and discussed results in special circumstances. The Board comprised four officers of the Department of Public Instruction and not less than four professors or other teachers of the University of Sydney nominated by the Senate. (4)

As a result of a review of education in 1933, the Board of Examiners was replaced by the Board of Secondary School Studies in 1936.



NOTES
(1) Report of the Minister of Public Instruction for 1913, p. 1 in NSW Parliamentary Papers, 1914 Volume 1 p. 109
(2) Ibid
(3) Loc. Cit. P. 2
(4) University (Amendment) Act No.52, 1912. Section 2