Bad decision to scrap grades 8, 10 exams

 CAN the Prime Minster confirm the policy statement issued by Education Minister Nick Kuman whether it is your government’s policy decision to do away with grade 8 and 10 exams?

If truly this government intends do to away with grade 8 and 10 exams it would be the worst education policy ever to have been formulated in this country. 

It is in fact, the most absurd education policy ahead of the reform which was introduced earlier.

Every education system in the world, I believe, is designed to produce quality professionals. 

To produce quality professionals, examination is an integral and indispensable process in all education systems throughout the world. The benefits of testing and examinations are immense. 

Examination apart from sharpening the intellectual thinking process of the students’ achieves many vital objectives of education. It encourages hard work and discourages lazing. 

It is the measure by which the parents and ultimately the students themselves know their potential and ability in comparison with their fellow students from all over the country who sat for the same exam, which in turn helps the students make well informed career decisions and choices.

If grade 8 and 10 national examinations are done away with the integrity of our national education system is certainly bound to collapse. To permit students to continue on from grade 1 to 12 without sitting for exam is unthinkable, totally absurd.

Assuming this policy’s objective is to address the issue of dropouts to retain our grade 8 and 10 leavers in the education system, the same objective can be achieved in two ways. 

The Governmental must allow grade 8 and 10 leavers or make in compulsory for them to repeat the courses (grade 8 or 10) should they fail in the national exams. 

Second, establish sufficient technical schools where those who do not want to repeat grade 8 and 10 may attend.

We must not utilise this absurd policy to address the issue of dropouts. 

I just hope the consultants or whoever may have advised the government has also canvassed and discussed the flipside of this particular education policy. 

To me, it seems this policy demands further and more elaborate discussions by the parliament or the people being the stakeholders, especially the teachers before it ever gets implemented.

Emmanuel Isaac

Port Moresby