A testing time for the exam system (From Bournemouth Echo)

A testing time for the exam system

11:29am Tuesday 18th September 2012 in Opinion

EDUCATION has been a political football between the main parties for many years.

And how that education is measured in terms of exams is the subject of much point scoring.

Critics of the old O Level system claimed it was a memory test for students on the day and pupils did not have to show an understanding of the subject.

Opponents of the current GCSE exam say it is too reliant on coursework and there is not enough emphasis on testing.

So the Education Secretary’s switch to an English Baccalaureate Certificate is an interesting one. For this project to work it must have the full support of everyone involved.And parents, teachers, students, politicians must have faith in its results.

Only time will tell if this is the panacea we have all been looking for or it is yet more political posturing of the type we have suffered over the last 30 odd years.