366 REPORT—1904. 
and as far as possible to adjust the relations of the examining bodies and 
their spheres of external action. 
Although absolute identity of standard between examinations con- 
ducted by different bodies and in different places may be an impossible 
ideal, practical equivalence can probably be secured. Further, more than 
one combination of subjects may be held to represent a good general 
education. It will be the duty of the Central Board to see that a suffi- 
cient minimum standard is maintained in each subject, so that certificates 
including these subjects, wherever given, may possess a generally recog- 
nised and interchangeable value, and further, that these certificates 
represent in each case a good general education. 
(7) That the Board of Education should constitute this Central 
Board as soon as, in their opinion, a sufficient number of recognised 
examining bodies have signified their willingness to be represented there- 
upon, and should take all steps that may be necessary to procure the 
acceptance of the certificates by the professional bodies. 
(8) That since an examination held with the co-operation of the 
school in which a scholar has been taught is more likely to lead to a just 
estimate of the knowledge which he possesses than one held entirely by an 
outside body, the examination should be conducted in each school by 
external and internal examiners, representing respectively the examining 
body and the school staff. 
(9) That the course of the work pursued by a scholar during his school 
career should be recorded and reported on by his teachers, and that this 
school record and report should be available for reference in deciding his 
fitness or unfitness to obtain a certificate. 
The suggestion here is that an examiner, in any case in which he 
desires to do so, should be able to judge of the character of a candidate’s 
school career. The school records and reports need not be of uniform 
pattern. What is required is that such materials shall be accessible as 
will enable an examiner to judge whether the scholar’s school career has 
been satisfactory or not. These materials will include, at the least, the 
curriculum of all the classes which a candidate has attended, a note of 
the time he spent in each, and periodical reports of his industry, regu- 
larity, and progress. 
(10) That the headmaster or headmistress of the school should certify 
that the candidate has received instruction during the necessary period, 
and is, in his or her opinion, fit to enter for the examination. 
(11) That the external examiner or examiners should have control of 
the examination, and should have a veto on the passing of any candidate. 
(12) That the papers should be set by the external examiner, after 
consultation with the internal examiner. 
This consultation does not necessarily involve a series of personal 
interviews previous to the examination. Full information as to the 
courses of study pursued by the candidate would in the first instance be 
supplied to the examining body for the information of the external 
examiner. The books read, whether in English, classical, or foreign 
literature, and the courses of history or geography studied, the practical 
work done, &c., would thus be reported. The internal examiner, also, 
would suggest series of questions, or indicate points upon which, in his 
