examination-nation hysteria
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Today's Lifestyle was quite boring with all the long DIY segment. Still, there was this one article by Ignatius Low concerning the scrapping of the end of year major exams for Primary one and two kids, to be replaced by topical tests sprinkled throughout the year, in order to 'cultivate a love for year-round learning.' Amusing stuff.
A lot of parents are complaining that this change is going to make new primary 3 students undergo a sudden dramatic change of exam formats, and I do agree with this. But what made me like this article over the broader one in The Straits Times main feature is that this guy tackled it from a student's point of view, not the parents.
What caught my attention is that he realises this gives no opportunity for kids to slack. This may sound childish at first, but I think in reality it can be very detrimental. See, under the current system, slackers and year-round toilers have about the same opportunity to succeed at the finals. Replacing this system will bring big implications. Slackers will be disadvantaged and not have a level playing field.
Yet a few will question the fairness of actually allowing slackers to have a level playing field. The truth is, as the author put it, no student is quite on either polar end. More than usually, a student will be interested in certain subjects and perform well or decently all year round for it, while neglecting other subjects, only to cram for them at the last moment. This so called slacker demographic thus makes up a very sizeable portion of the students.
What I found most important is that topical tests throughout the year are seriously not going to be so welcome. Finals are there so that the beginning can be easy going, as compared to a year of continuous tests to be bombarded by. There has to be a build up to a climatic end, one that looms ever closer and tivitates pupils, rather than a monotonous drab of tests. Sure, it could help young people get attuned to a serious lifestyle that awaits us in the working world, (come on, everyone, let's all enjoy year-long learning and studying!) but for that reasoning to be truly effective, this has to be applied across all levels and not just for two formulative years.
One might be able to find inspiration from SPA, but even as a student I can't comment on how effective it is. I would say it's fine, but then again I'm not having to sit for a year-end pratical assesment next year. Besides, it's not the best example, given that the knowledge is not cumulative and it is only a segment of the main paper. In short, I don't know if anything can be gleaned from it, but I'm pretty sure the board took a look at it at some point or other. Now don't ask me why I brought it up.
posted by joseph at 10:35 AM