Jamaica Local Examinations-Proposed Changes - The National ...

- 7-(a)(b)(c)(d)the examination should be of a satisfactory standard;it should be a group examination; that is to say, theaward should be mc:.de on tho basis of attainment ina group of subject s.accompanying the certificate should be a s t atementby the Head Tea cher of the char acter and overallability of the pupil;failure to obtain the tchool l eaving certificateshould not preclude the pupil from sitting a subsequentlocal examination at a higher l ev el.(iii) Subjects for the examinationaPapers for the examin2tionshould be set in the following subjects g-EnglishMathematicsll General Pape·r.It is usually accepted tha t whil e an examination t ests the s t andard of. attainment of a candidate, it £lso helps to s hape the type of instructiongiven for preparation. Bearing this principle in mind, it i s r ecommended that.the examination should not be bookish but should be based on a syll abus fort he top forms of the senior school.ll pa ss in the examination should requirea fairly good standard of English with emphasis on expressional and interpretativeexercises.The pass mark should hot be less than 40% in the groupof :Subj eats taken together,__ provided tha t . the mark in the English papershould not be less than 50%. Mathematics should include arithmetic and el e-ments of geometry and algebra. The general paper should be set on the multiplepattern and should deal vfi th questions arising out of environmentalknowledge and an awareness of the country in which we live.-It is recommendedthat no fndication of tho subjects taken should beshown on the certifica t e, but rother that overall attainment should be signified.On the other hnnd, the oortificnte -should indicate the nature ofsuch practicalsubj eats in which the pupil showed petrticular aptitude, v1i thspecinl reference to craft, woodwork, domestic science, etc ••(iv) Standard of the Examination: Care must be taken that the certificatewill be of a standard tha t will eqrn public respect. On the other hand, itshould be within the achi'·:v:ement of the majority of the pupils who attendschool regul arly and complete the course.(v) Practical Subjectsg Pupils should also hnve the option of to.kinga certain number of practical subjects.These subjects should be assessedby the school in collaboration v-ri th Education Officers, and the school l ec:ving/ certificnto