FionaK |
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| They are having a major scandal in England,Wales and Northern Ireland about grading of exams. What has happened is that a set of exams called GCSE's were graded differently for those pupils who sat them last winter as compared with those who sat this summer. A number of pupils who would have got grade C's in November got D's just because they took the test in June. This applies primarily to english language exams and it matters because entry to many higher courses of study are dependent on achieving at least grade C in English and Maths
It is acknowledged this has happened. The Education Minister has agreed it is unfair: but he says he can do nothing about it, beyond allowing special "resits" for the affected students this coming November.
There is a plethora of background issues and very little indication that the proposed reforms to education which the minister is undertaking owe much to research or evidence: though as with everything else privatisation of a public service is being pursued regardless of evidence: and one effect of this will be to further that agenda. The other aim, so far as I can see, is to maintain the priviliges of the elite while pretending to provide universal education.
Specific questions include these:
1. Should education be norm or criterion referenced?
2. What is the justification for an attack on module based learning rather than on a system which depends on performance on one day of examination at the end of the academic year?
3. If there is "grade inflation", as claimed, how is that shown and what is wrong with it?
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