Recently, there was a debate over whether to scrap the exams for the primary 1s and 2s. There were many good points being brought up by the parents. Some applauded this decision, calling this a step towards over emphasis on studies. Other supporters feel that this will greatly reduce the stress for primary 1s and 2s. However, others feel that the teachers will give them more homework, causing them to be equally stressed. There was also a very relevant point that was brought up; the students would get an extremely rude shock when they progress to primary 3, and cause them to have a lot of stress. They would also be less used to taking exams when it comes to the major exams such as the PSLE.
Personally, I feel that scraping the exams, and replacing it with topical test would be a good decision. The teachers can always spend more time revising for the exams at primary 3, or set easier exams at that level. Replacing the end of year exams with topical tests will benefit those consistent workers, who study regularly, and not days before the exam itself. Those last minute workers will have to change their bad habit, or they would do badly in many of the tests. Consistent working is what I feel the government should be encouraging. When students come out to the corporate world, they will have to be consistent workers, and leave a good impression on their superior if they want to keep their jobs. Why not start them off at a younger age?
I propose that teachers create tests after teaching a topic, and take the average of all the tests, and derive the score. This way, last minute workers will have to study for every subject regularly. The teachers can also give tests after teaching a few topics, or on a topic that he/she feels is difficult. This will encourage consistent working. However, I feel that at primary 3, it is still important to have major tests. At that time, they should already be used to studying regularly, and they should learn how sitting for a major test is like. This will help them prepare for the all-important PSLE. They will also learn how to study a little harder as the exams come, and how to revise the entire year's syllabus thoroughly. I as a student, feel that this is an extremely important skill, and we must master the skill and techniques of revision.
I feel that major exams, although a good gauge of a student's progress, encourages last minute work. While they are still young, let us impart on them the right habits, and start them off on their learning journey with good values.
3 comments:
you said that the teachers could spend more time in P3 revising work. But my question is, does the teacher have enough time. The teacher has many other things to do like, going through the year's syllabus and so on and so forth. From my previous experience, the teachers normally start slow in the beginning of the year, but when the exams are round the corner, they tend to rush. So, where do they find the time.
Good point, but the MOE can alter the syllabus a little, so that there is less things to teach, leaving more time to revise.
What is the point of altering the syllabus if less things are taught?
If the student already know the lessons well and the teacher has to go back to the same old topic to teach what the students already know. Why not put the time to better use like teaching new stuff and equipping the kids with more knowledge?
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