News
Education, re-educated; no term tests, only one exam for a year
View(s):- More students carry about 6kg of weight on their backs, that will be transformed to a modular or digital process
- ADB will provide aid for new system; 50 per cent of marks from exam, 50 per cent from assessments
By Nadia Fazlulhaq
While the Government’s intention is to bring relief to around four million students burdened by heavy books on their shoulders. They have to cram for examinations throughout their school days as well, and field experts want plans to be effectively implemented.
Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) leader Joseph Stalin said students carry about six kilogrammes of weight on their backs daily. Pic by Priyanka Samaraweera
This week, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said starting from next year students would be required to face only one written test annually, instead of three term-end tests.
The Minister said the intention was to gradually promote school-based assessments.
According to him, students would be assessed at the end of every module. At the beginning 70 percent of the marks would be from the test and 30 from assessments. The Education Ministry planned to gradually increase this to 50 percent for each.
Students would also be given modules only for the relevant term, thereby taking away the need to carry heavy textbooks daily to school.
The Sunday Times learned that grade one, six and ten students in 200 schools would be selected for the pilot project next year.
Dr. Jayantha Nawaratne, former Director General of the National Institute of Education (NIE), said the Asian Development Bank would be assisting the pilot project with US$ 400 million and international consultants.
He said the pilot project was to begin in April this year, but due to the economic crisis the implementation was put off for next year.
“Text books will be replaced by modules. Each module will contain a few pages and will be available as physical and digital copies. This will reduce the weight students carry and will be cost effective for the Education Ministry,” he said.
Prof. Prasad Sethunga, the newly appointed Director General of the NIE, said the institute wanted to scrap the overloaded curriculum and implement a more student friendly assessment based modular system.
“The pre-piloting feedback was positive. New curriculum reforms prepared by the NIE will be implemented once the education policy statement is finalised,” he said.
Based on the outcome from next year’s pilot project, changes would be made in consultation with the Examinations Department, Prof. Sethunga said.
National Education Commission (NEC) Chairman Harischandra Abeygunawardena said introducing school-based assessments had been recommended by the NEC to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
However, once implemented teachers would have to play an unbiased role when assessing students, while attendance would be a must for students as they would be assessed continuously.
Dr. Kapila Bandara, Dean of Colombo University’s Education Faculty, said educationists were of a strong view the current exam oriented education system had taken away the students’ creative and critical thinking skills.
“These student based assessments will help students recognise their strengths. Education authorities should train teachers for this purpose. These should be implemented in a pro-active and efficient manner. The technology stream was introduced for students several years ago but still there is a shortage of resource persons. Training the teachers is a must,” he added.
Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) leader Joseph Stalin said students had to carry about six kilogrammes of weight on their backs daily.
“These are not new proposals. Many governments have been repeatedly suggesting these changes. As teachers, we are burdened to cover syllabuses and prepare children for exams. These changes should not merely be statements,” he said.
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