Page 2 - 1970 News Clippings

MINISTER EXPLAINS

$1 EXAMINATION FEE

Staff Reporter, Wellington Talboys.
23 June 1970 The money could have
No new principle in been found by increasing the fee
charging fees for examinations for each subject but the method
is being introduced by the adopted was considered simpler.
decision to charge a $1 Extra Staff
registration fee for candidates The department of
sitting School Certificate, the education employed a number
Minister of Education, Mr of permanent officers solely to
Talboys, said yesterday. administer the examination, he
The Minister had been said. Each year it also employed
asked by the Herald if the substantial numbers of
Government was introducing a temporary workers, mainly
new concept into education that university students, for the same
would make a registration fee purpose.
payable for every examination. None of these people,
Higher rates paid to permanent or temporary,
examiners and supervisors for would be employed if there
the 1969 examination, he said, were no examination, said Mr
amounted to an increase of more Talboys.
than $50,000. Their wages were not
No increase in fees had taken into account in costing the
been made last year because the examination, however. The only
entry fees had been paid before charges taken into account were
the decision was made to those directly related to the
increase the rates for examiners examinations.” examination, such as examiners’
and supervisors. Asked if he thought the fees, printing and stationery.
In 1969 examiners’ fees, “user pays” principle was being It was a long-standing
accommodation and other carried a bit far, Mr Talboys policy, he said, to try to balance
direct costs totalled $384,000. replied simply “No.” fees paid against such
The fees last rose about The new fee means that examination costs.
three years ago, said Mr pupils sitting school certificate Asked if the principle
Talboys. examinations pay $1 registration would be applied to the
Simply ‘No’ fee then $1.50 entry fee for each university entrance examination,
“What we seek to do is to paper taken. Mr Talboys said that was a
cover the immediately The $1 fee, to start this matter for the University Grants
identifiable costs,” he said - year, was intended to offset the Committee.
“The things we would not have higher marking fees and
to meet if there were no supervision costs, said Mr