Royal Military College of Australia Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1923 No. 107 is a legislative instrument made under the Defence Act 1903-1918, which provides for the regulation of the Royal Military College of Australia. Enacted by the Governor-General in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, the regulation specifically amends the syllabus for candidates under 19 years of age entering the College. The regulation was introduced to standardise the academic qualifications required for admission into the Royal Military College of Australia, ensuring that candidates meet certain educational benchmarks before being considered for entry. The regulation specifies the subjects and the level of certification required for candidates to qualify, providing a clear set of academic prerequisites. This amendment reflects the policy objective of maintaining a consistent and high standard of education for those entering military training, thereby ensuring that the future officers of the Australian Defence Force are well-prepared both academically and professionally.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1923 No. 107, made under the Defence Act 1903-1918, concern regulations specifically for the Royal Military College of Australia. These regulations apply to candidates under the age of 19 who wish to enter the Royal Military College. The regulations outline the academic qualifications and subjects that candidates must pass to be considered for entry, including specific requirements in English, mathematics, a modern language, and additional subjects. The Act specifies the criteria for the Public Examinations that candidates must pass, such as the "Leaving" or "Senior" and "Intermediate" or "Junior" certificates, with the order of merit being determined by the total marks achieved in the specified subjects. The syllabus for the required subjects includes a range of academic disciplines such as history, geography, and sciences. Additionally, the Commandant of the College has the discretion to accept candidates who may have failed in one subject but have sufficient marks in the other subjects. The geographic reach of these regulations is limited to the Commonwealth of Australia, specifically governing the entry requirements for the Royal Military College located within the country. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions in the text, and the application of these regulations is direct without extensions through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of these regulations pertain to the educational qualifications required for candidates entering the Royal Military College of Australia (RMCA). According to section 1(ii), candidates must pass or achieve a higher certificate in English, Mathematics (including geometry and algebra), a modern language (French, Japanese, or German), and two additional subjects from a specified list. These subjects must be passed at public examinations for either the “Leaving” or “Senior” and “Intermediate” or “Junior” certificates, with precedence given to the “Leaving” and “Senior” certificates. Furthermore, candidates have the flexibility to choose two additional subjects from the list, which includes History, Geography, Latin, Greek, French (if not selected as the modern language), German (if not selected as the modern language), Trigonometry, Mechanics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, and Geology. The Commandant of the RMCA has the discretion to recommend acceptance of a candidate who has passed in five subjects but failed in the sixth, provided that the total marks in the six subjects meet the aggregate required for a pass. The regulations impose several obligations and requirements on the candidates aspiring to join the Royal Military College of Australia. Firstly, candidates must ensure they meet the specified academic qualifications by passing the required subjects at public examinations. The order of merit is determined by the total marks achieved in the four mandatory subjects, with preference given to higher-level certificates. Additionally, candidates must demonstrate proficiency in a modern language, which can be either French, Japanese, or German, and select two additional subjects from the provided list. The Commandant of the RMCA retains the authority to make exceptions for candidates who have narrowly missed qualifying in one subject, provided that their overall performance in the six subjects meets the required standard. Failure to meet the academic requirements outlined in these regulations can result in civil consequences for the candidates. Specifically, if a candidate does not meet the specified educational qualifications, they will not be eligible to enter the Royal Military College of Australia. There are no explicit criminal or civil penalties mentioned in the regulations for non-compliance with these academic requirements. However, the primary consequence is the exclusion from admission to the college, which underscores the importance of meeting the stipulated educational criteria. The regulations do not explicitly detail criminal or civil penalties for non-compliance, but the overarching consequence of failing to meet the academic requirements is the denial of entry to the Royal Military College of Australia. This underscores the importance of candidates ensuring they meet all specified qualifications and subjects to be eligible for admission. The regulations emphasize the academic standards required to qualify for entry into the military college, ensuring that only suitably qualified candidates are accepted.