Mad Hatter Page 16
B.C. COUNCIL OF PRINCIPALS ies

PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY OF IMPLICATIONS OF THE "WHITE PAPER"
ON SECONDARY EDUCATION - MINISTRY OF EDUCATION - 1984

 

These comments are not to be viewed as evaluations of the proposals, as such.
They attempt to deal with specific and general impacts on the colleges and
institutes as components of an overall system of provincially financed and con-
trolled education.

College Foundations

The proposed requirements for the secondary program reflect essentially a re-
turn to the previous curriculum structure that was implemented at the recom-
mendation of the Chant Commission.

It was this structure, that clearly assumed an occupational/vocational orien-
tation purpose for the secondary schools, that helped to create a structural
need for post-secondary career programs, and a "college" system in the 1960's.

Superficially, it would appear that the fully credentialled secondary graduate
will be less likely than in the past to require beginning or orientation level
courses in Sciences, Mathematics, or Languages.

In fact, the primary student clientele of the colleges and institutes is such
that the effect over the next four years is likely to be marginal. This is
simply because the average college/institute student is over 21 years of age,
and is engaged in a change of plan from that envisaged in secondary school.

It would be reasonable to assume, therefore, that a continuing need for present
“foundations” programs will be felt.

Standards

Statements in the "White Paper" reflect a concern for, and assumptions about,
academic standards, and expectations of a harder-working student body.

The paper notably does not address the question of intake standards of the
colleges and institutes. These institutions presently do not function as an
articulated segment of a formal "ladder", as do the C.E.G.E.Ps. of Quebec, but
continue to operate in terms of "output" expectations, and on enrollment
"markets". Operationally their intake standards are as low as possible, for

ideological and political reasons, and as high as necessary, for financial and
accountability reasons.

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