University students could be forced to take literacy test

Literacy test Canterbury University is considering making commerce students take a literacy test before they start their second-year studies.

If the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors' Committee approves, all first-year students will be required to pass a writing assessment next year to get into Canterbury's second-year course in experimental computer science.

From 2004, students will have to pass the test to progress to any 200-level commerce course.

In papers to the university's council, the university said it was vital that students were able to communicate effectively in English and this ability was also sought by employers.