Today newspaper forum
My son, a top student, returned
home shattered after difficult PSLE maths paper
Letter from GUO WEIFU
THIS years PSLE mathematics paper has caused many students
undeserved anguish. Their reactions, including that of the good and
gifted ones, were one of despair and discouragement upon
encountering problem sums that were set beyond their capabilities.
Some even broke down right after the examination.
My son is in a top class. Mentally strong and confident in
mathematics, he returned shattered boy after the exam.
I immediately checked with friends and teachers from other classes
and schools, and the same story was heard.
Although schools have been equipping pupils with the skills of
applying mathematical concepts, many could not complete half or
more of the problem sums.
Is there a huge gap between expectations and ability? In the mind
of a child, he has either failed or done badly. With his confidence
ripped by the mathematics paper, how can a child recover in less
than 24 hours to face the next paper?
Tearing children apart mentally at a developmental stage snuffs out
the joy of
learning. The Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB)
had previously said the exams were a means to differentiate
students of diverse abilities by setting questions of varying
difficulty levels.
It stated that an examination paper should be comparable in
difficulty from one year to the next and teachers know how to
prepare their students for the examinations.
SEAB also stated that different teams of experienced setters,
moderators and examiners conduct several rounds of checking of each
question and for the paper as a whole.
The fact different teams are involved is no consolation as it may
be a systemic failure from pegging the paper at too high a
standard.
For some parents and students, education is seen as a source of
mental torture. All I ask is this: Please give the children of
Singapore the confidence to face their future with a lions
heart.
Whaddaya think???
