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The results of the four-month exams and specifically of the first quarter, which were implemented for the first time this year across the entire high school cycle, as well as the problems presented by the implementation of the mid-term exams, were brought before the Education Committee of the Parliament on Monday, with the Minister of Education, Prodromos Prodromou, stating that the institution of quarterly exams is under evaluation.
Briefing members of the Education Committee, Prodromou said that a number of studies and evaluations of the procedures are already underway, noting that the Ministry is still in the process of completion.
According to Prodromos Prodromou, once the evaluation of the institution is completed, detailed information will be placed before members of the Committee for their information.
In addition, the Education Minister refuted the rumour that this year's exam results were much worse, saying that in a sample of about 15% of schools that his Ministry was able to obtain data from, "this rumour that has been circulating is not verified".
He expressed regret because, as he noted, "as of February 3, and before exams were even corrected and before anyone even had a chance to know, a rumor had been spread that supposedly the results were lower."
"Obviously," he said, "some people are constantly trying to fight the school, to not let us have seamless processes, to create rivalries and unnecessary debates upon debates."
Speaking to the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Prodromou said that the evaluation process was implemented, as in previous school years, successfully, while recalling that according to an article of the regulations - which were implemented and passed by the Parliament - when the process is completed in the third year of high school and the third year of technical schools, i.e. at the end of this school year, an evaluation should be carried out.
"There we will be able to have a discussion, make decisions and thoroughly inform the Parliament. For this purpose, the Ministry of Education has already started scientific evaluations, one of which concerning the Chemistry course in particular has already been submitted to the Parliamentary Committee."
In response to a question about discouraging results in Modern Greek, Prodromou said that "the results in Modern Greek, whether in the third grade, or in B,' or A,' or in the Pancyprian exams, are always as described."
In response to a question about discouraging results in Modern Greek, Prodromou said that "the results in Modern Greek, whether in the third grade, or in B,' or in A,' or in the Pancyprian exams, are always as described."
He noted that "it would be good if we were concerned every year", noting that "when the results of the Pancyprian exams were announced by the Ministry, we had stressed that we should be concerned about the fact that about 1 in 5 children finishing school in Cyprus scores between 0 and 5 in our language".
He also said that we should also be concerned about the fact that a little more than half of them have scores below the pass mark.
"I underlined this in the Education Committee of the Parliament. It's not about when and which exams we take. And if there were no exams at all possibly these gaps would exist in young people. So what we need to be concerned about - and we will need the input of the Committee and the political forces - is possibly to reorganise some of the studies in the secondary school and the high school."
Furthermore, he said that next year we will have evidence from assessments in the high school as well, adding that a discussion should be held in time from the first year of high school so that "improvement measures and not one-sided proposed solutions" can be taken.
He reiterated that "where there are shortcomings and gaps we must improve", adding that "this is where we must aim and the Ministry is ready and willing to work with teachers, who must be given time to assimilate these new methods and be trained".
In statements after the session, the Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Chrysanthos Savides, spoke about changes in the structure of the 4-months institution, saying that the exams may be an institution of evaluation, however, at the moment they need improvement.
According to Mr. Savvidis, "unfortunately, today the Minister of Education with his attitude seems to have failed to understand the big problem that has arisen through the 4-month exams," while noting that DIKO is not against the 4-month exams.
However, he added that "corrective measures must be taken, improvements either procedural or learning."
"This year we had a problem with the quarterly exams and if some people do not understand this, then we will continue to have a problem in the coming years. Six weeks of instructional time was lost, according to an official statement. There are more weeks because of the third series exams as well."
He further said that his party is in favour of maintaining the public school system, adding that "in order to improve the public school system, the term exams should also be changed."
He noted that "unfortunately, we have not heard any willingness from the Minister of Education either for self-criticism or some measures to improve," adding that they have not heard "a single word about this year's graduates."
"These children are wronged because they did not have normal conditions for acquiring knowledge and participating in the examinations. I hope the Minister will have second thoughts. We await full statistical data for all subjects. The institution of four-month exams needs improvement," he said.
DISY MP George Karoulas referred to the institution of four-month exams, saying that "we must recognize the great pedagogical value of this new institution."
He stressed that "neither verbal extremism nor populism have a place in this issue", expressing the conviction that "they do not solve the problem in the face of the struggle to maintain the quality of education".
At the same time, he said that his party recognizes any concerns, noting that "we must wait for the evaluation of the results to be completed, so that decisions can be taken on possible corrective measures, specifically for this year, either in terms of reduction, weighting or the subject matter examined , with a view to the quality of education and the children's future".
AKEL MP Christos Christofides pointed out that during today's debate the Minister of Education left no window for corrective measures, either for reduction or reduction of the percentage, that the four-month exams will occupy in the final result, while complaining that some principals deliberately rushed to give checks so that there could be no correction in the results.
Referring to the introduction of four-year exams, he called it a "pedagogical crime against thousands of students and their parents, for which the Minister of Education and the DISY leadership are responsible."
He also spoke of "unbelievable shenanigans" and the imposition of the "unacceptable institution of quarterly exams", especially in the third grade and in "unbelievably difficult conditions".
The MP of DIPA - Cooperation of Democratic Forces, Alekos Tryfonidis, said he is in favor of the institution, however, he noted that "there must be a proper evaluation of the results in order to review the learning frameworks, for the benefit of students and their education, so that students do not become guinea pigs and sacrifice their future, while eliminating the phenomena of parapideia, which do not honor our educational system."
Source: CNA
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