Thorns on the Side

A respite for students

Education is very much in the news these days. There is no doubt that many more steps have to be taken to improve the quality of education. One prime concern is that the three major examinations - the Grade Five Scholarship Examination, GCE Ordinary Level and Advanced Level Examinations – have forced the students to enter into a rat race. These three exams are seen as gateways to the next level on the ladder of education and no one wants to miss out. Both parents and students seem to be under the impression that attending tuition classes is a ‘must’ to pass these exams. Ironically, some teachers who have a lacklustre attitude to teaching duties at school, do conduct tuition classes rather keenly.

Indeed, it is not unusual to see even Grade One students attending tuition classes. It is baffling as to what extra material they could learn from a tuition class.

Parents should assess whether it is worthwhile sending such young children to so-called tuition classes. Some tuition classes continue right up to examination day, offering ‘exam practice’ and ‘revision’. In short, there is no respite for students from the daily grind of tuition classes. Rest and recreation are forgotten as students ‘cram’ for the big day. Tuition masters, on their part, conduct their classes right throughout the period leading up to the examination(s).

It is acknowledged that students need a ‘break’ from their studies and revision just prior to the exam to be in a proper frame of mind to face the big test. Some psychologists say that students should engage in a totally unrelated activity such as listening to songs to put the mind at ease. But this is often denied to students thanks to the tuition craze and overzealous parents.

We heard some good news in this regard last week, with Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena saying that students preparing for examinations will be given a week’s respite immediately before sitting their examination.

This is a sound idea, as students sitting for examinations are affected by various examination targeted educational activities including so-called ‘mock’ exams administered by tuition masters.

According to the Minister, during the period prior to the examination, the Education Ministry will not allow anyone to carry out examination related educational activities such as seminars, workshops and revision classes.

There is another reason that has led to this decision. Some tuition masters have given mock test papers which had borne many similarities to the actual test papers given just a couple of days later. Some of them even boast that they are the actual examination papers ‘leaked’ to them or ‘obtained’ by them.

Coincidence or malpractice, this could confuse the students and add an unnecessary burden to the examination authorities. The Ministry will have to address logistical and enforcement problems which may crop up when implementing this timely decision.

There is no question that the whole tuition business has spiralled out of control. There are tuition classes almost everywhere, for any grade from 1 to 12.

The teachers, some of whose qualifications are hazy to say the least, print colourful posters to attract students. There are often hundreds of students in one class, which makes individual attention impossible. We are told that in some multi-storey classes, the teacher’s image is projected onto a screen for the students in the upper storeys to catch the lesson.

There should be a regulatory body for the tuition trade, which is here to stay. The Government has introduced many laws pertaining to international schools and in the same manner, tuition classes, especially those conducted on a mass scale, should come under scrutiny. It will obviously be difficult to tackle group and individual classes.

We also do not know whether the earlier decision to halt tuition classes on Sunday mornings, when many students attend religious schools of their respective faiths, has been properly implemented. That too is a far-sighted decision, because it is important for students to learn more about their faiths and receive moral guidance.

At the heart of the tuition debate is a belief that what the children learn at school is ‘not enough’ to face and pass an examination. Just as there are disparities among city and rural schools (there shouldn’t be), there could be real or perceived shortcomings in the way some teachers cover the syllabus at school. Hence the need felt by some students to take extra lessons.

The answer to both these issues is empowering all schools equally, regardless of whether they are in the city or rural areas. This should also solve the vexed Year One admissions issue, where parents end up in a mad scramble for the so-called leading schools.

If all schools are equal in terms of manpower and physical resources, there would no need to go in search of a city school. There should be ‘good’ teachers at all schools for the available subjects so that children can opt not to go for tuition classes.

Exams are portrayed in the media and by the wider society, somewhat unnecessarily, as do or die affairs. Many students think that it would be the end of the road for their education if they fail an examination.

There have been many instances where misguided students have taken their own lives, unable to bear the consequences of failing an examination and incurring the wrath of parents and teachers.

If this notion is to be effaced, there should be a wider spectrum of options to choose from for those who fare poorly at examinations. For example, more vocational training subjects should be taught at schools for those who do not fare all that well at the 0/Ls.

Who knows, they could do better than the university entrants later on. Indeed, the focus should be on those who miss out (on A/Ls and University) rather than on those who go in.

This will also address the current mismatch between the job market and the education system. The current education reforms must address these burning issues which have a bearing on the next generation.