Institute and Warwick Academy could be considered "culturally biased'' if they are allowed to make up their own entrance exams, as proposed.

Mrs. Askia was referring to a proposal which, if accepted, will see the abolition of the controversial 11-Plus transfer exam and give parents the choice of having their children sit separate entrance exams for Berkeley or Warwick or attend the nearest secondary school.

She said while the proposal, coming from a committee of teachers, principals, and education officers, is the best alternative to doing away with the 11-Plus and generally accepted by parents, there are several concerns.

"It is the best proposal that they could come up with,'' Mrs. Askia said.

"And I am most happy that the department has done something and parents and the community put the pressure on them to follow through.

"But there are some things that we did not like about the proposal.'' Mrs. Askia said the executive committee, which met with Education Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons last Thursday to discuss the proposal, are concerned that Warwick and Berkeley will be setting their own exams.

"They are still aided schools, getting public money,'' she said. "We felt there might be a question of cultural bias if they set their own exams.

"We felt it would be more fair that Government should be consulted on the exams.'' Mrs. Askia said no one has ever claimed that the 11-Plus, with all its flaws, was culturally biased.

But she said: "There's a fear of (Berkeley and Warwick) being extremely selective. If you have to have selectivity we feel it should not be left up to Berkeley and Warwick Academy's boards of governors.

"These schools historically have received a certain type of child. They will get the upper children and that's fine. But instead of letting themselves be opened for ridicule, it's better to let Government participate.'' Mrs. Askia said another concern is the perception that not all schools are equal.

"It is obvious that certain neighbourhood schools are deemed better than others,'' she said. "It is also obvious that Government will have to do some fast shuffling of resources and teachers so all schools are on an equal par.

Noting that courses such as foreign language and science are not offered in all secondary schools, Mrs. Askia said: "All schools must be made equal''.

"For example, I would like to know that if my child goes to Whitney, she will have the same benefits and chances as the children coming out of Berkeley.'' While acknowledging that such equality will not "happen overnight'', Mrs.

Askia said: "But we need to really feel comfortable that Government is going to make sure that all these schools are equal''.

She said the public's attitude about schools will also have to change because "after all these (neighbourhood) schools will have to be middle schools'' under education reform.