News / Education
Parents reject Grade two examinations
19 Jan 2014 at 17:23hrs | Views
SCREENING of Grade Two pupils will not improve the country's education system, but would, instead create a bloated structure and add a financial burden in the form of examination fees, parents have said.
Most parents rejected the idea saying it was an "unnecessary expense".
The parents' comments come following a recent announcement by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Lazarus Dokora that there would be an introduction of an assessment at Grade Two.
Dokora said the assessment was in line with the new school Early Childhood Development curriculum which is designed to improve the quality of education.
Most parents have expressed displeasure at this new concept, and some outrightly rejected it.
The social networks on the internet were last week awash with comments from angry parents from across the country dismissing the introduction of exams at grade two level.
The government scrapped ZJC tests in the late 1990s because it had no money to run the exams.
Research has shown that since government scrapped the ZJC examinations and localised 'O' and 'A' Level examinations in the mid-1990s, education standards have been tumbling.
The junior certificate examinations were considered a good way of monitoring the quality of education that is being offered in schools and they served as an opportunity to prepare for the "O" Level examination.
Former Minister of Education, David Coltart said it was important to understand what exactly the screening exercise would involve.
Most parents rejected the idea saying it was an "unnecessary expense".
The parents' comments come following a recent announcement by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Lazarus Dokora that there would be an introduction of an assessment at Grade Two.
Dokora said the assessment was in line with the new school Early Childhood Development curriculum which is designed to improve the quality of education.
Most parents have expressed displeasure at this new concept, and some outrightly rejected it.
The government scrapped ZJC tests in the late 1990s because it had no money to run the exams.
Research has shown that since government scrapped the ZJC examinations and localised 'O' and 'A' Level examinations in the mid-1990s, education standards have been tumbling.
The junior certificate examinations were considered a good way of monitoring the quality of education that is being offered in schools and they served as an opportunity to prepare for the "O" Level examination.
Former Minister of Education, David Coltart said it was important to understand what exactly the screening exercise would involve.
Source - thestandard
