Social Icons


Wednesday, January 14, 2015

A Wise Move

A few of my students who have recently appeared grade XII board examination wrote to me that the ship of their future is on the verge of wreckage after the catastrophic news of a leaked paper. They were worried for 2 reasons:
To REDO exam and to OMIT to redo. 

I shared their concern equally.

Unlike any other profession, for teachers, the achievement of our students is akin to an ornament of pride that we wear on almost every occasion. The speed at which they pass through the friction of interviews and get into a job is another that determines the homeostatic state of our psychic happiness. But none of these is likely unless they make a good hop over the bar of the grade 12 board exam. Thus, the broadcast of leaked English paper II mentally put me together with them in the same ship of trepidation.

The leakage of an examination paper is never a new phenomenon. Though negligible in frequency, records reveal the occurrence of such academic misfortunes in the past as well. Such episodes of educational miscarriage particularly that of public board exam tarnish the mood of applause and appreciation from society. In general, in an education system that determines the performance of learners largely through summative evaluation, such calamity will further question the credibility and integrity of the examination niche.   
 
In its reaction, the Bhutan Council for School Examination and Assessment (BCSEA) through print and media, declared to put the evaluation of a leaked paper on the shelf. Their verdict of the stand, as reports say, was on the basis that it shares a correlation with the marks of English paper I.

And today, the same board has revoked its earlier decision after a huge public outcry in the social media and hence decided to move with a palatable solution of evaluating it and omitting redo.

Through the lens of statistics, I personally felt that it was a wise move provided they have already sketched a plan to make statistical comparisons after the evaluation with the marks of students who grabbed the leaked paper and who did not. That analysis can be a reliable armour for them to conclude either to redo or not to since the interpretation will be based on the outcome of the same participants. The previous claim of having 0.60 correlation between the marks of English papers I and II and therefore, shunning both evaluations and redo of the exam is comparatively a laymen defence for 3 reasons.

1.
It reveals only a moderate range of correlation on the basis of correlation interpretation by Pett, Lackey & Sullivan (2003). On extreme statistical scrutiny, values of such range are usually considered not very strong to generalize for the study. [Correlation range: 0.00-0.29 Weak; 0.30-0.49 Low; 0.50-0.60 Moderate; 0.70-0.89 Strong; 0.90-1.00 Very Strong. (Pett, Lackey & Sullivan, 2003)]. 

2. 
If the figure of 0.60 correlation is accepted as big enough to stop the evaluation and redo exam, then the remaining 0.40 difference is not too small to be unconsidered for the same. If it is to be strictly based on statistics, even a vary of 0.001 is too big to defend from the statistical point of view. 

3. 
Based on this mere figure of a correlation obtained from the results of past participants of the year unknown, it has been both statistically and almost educationally unjust to generalize the implications on the present group of students.     
    
However, the resolution passed by the BCSEA to evaluate the paper is a welcome move. Although it may not equate to fairness and justice, it sounds more palatable and healthier. Even by redoing the exam, it can still be unfair based on my limited pedagogic experiences. 

But one thing is certain. It can offer the board to define a clear path for what next, how and why. It will let the officials concerned think out of the box and hunt for recipes to stop repeating such history in the near future. And eventually, the students, in general, can still experience the weather of best holiday mood at their respective homes and for time being can escape from that disturbing wind of redo or omit redo.

“If you can solve the problem, then what is the need of worrying? If you cannot solve it, then what is the use of worrying?” -  Śāntideva 

14 comments:

  1. They have taken more than a month to arrive at this decision. I don't understand why so much delay and moreover public can't trust authorities..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with you but the things that are of national significance usually does take a long time. It is even good to take a long time if the solutions are wise and profound. Thanks for the comments.

      Delete
  2. It must be really difficult to be caught up in this situation, Dumcho. Similar situations are all too often occurring here too. What can we do when the authorities can't be trusted? Who can we turn to? Our children's futures are at stake here...:/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This phenomenon is prevalent in many countries but it so rare in the country of ours Ygraine. In an exam oriented curriculum like ours, we simply cannot afford to welcome such educational lapses. But I felt that the current move is more preferable.
      Thanks for the comments.

      Delete
  3. Evaluating the papers sounds like a sound decision, depending on who is responsible for the evaluation.

    A bunch of educators the next county over from me are on trial now, because they changed answers on their students' standardized tests to make their schools look better. There's so much emphasis on test results, the administrators cared more about showing "improvement", even though it was false, than they were about the welfare of the students. Shameful!

    The Einstein quote you chose is one of my favorite. (But he made SO many good ones!) And I love that Santideva quote at the end, too.

    Happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Susan for the comments. I felt the same that they have taken a wise decision. That quote of Einstein is what keeps me moving. Thanks for the visit.

      Delete
  4. As you said the evaluation of paper has already begun. It may not be a perfect decision but it is the only better choice.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh, that's tough. But I like the quote you shared in the last part. Really need to remember this when worrying creeps in. I hope things will be alright soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes the quote at the end was said by one of the prolific Buddhist scholar. I try to console whenever there is a worry in me. Hehe.

      Delete
  6. Dumcho, I echo Ygraine's comment.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Their decision to evaluate English-II paper is a better choice but may not be the life-giver to Justice and Equality. For those who have done it sincerely are always the best and for those who didn't, on the other side. But the case is today's world is a world of comparison and competition. And so shall be in the result they will get. This time, justice and fair will be in a deep sleep when selection interview for the students for their future will be done reluctantly. An instructive thoughts Dumcho Sir and we pray not for this in near future for all's goodness. Hope all is going well with sound in health. Regards from me. Do Great. Take Care. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes I could not agree more with you. But they have done the right thing although as you mentioned may not equate with justice. It is all about time actually. It is only the time that can tell us what is in the store.

      Delete

Labels

Feelings (114) Truth (91) Values (90) Experience (86) Education (72) Life (54) Teaching (38) Human (37) Social (35) Bhutan (31) Country (28) Respect (26) Happiness (23) Leadership (19) Love (18) Culture (17) Failure (17) Friends (15) Interest (15) National (15) Thailand (15) Dream (14) Frustration (12) Achievement (10) Family (10) King (9) Religion (9) Fate (8) Politics (8) Poetry (7) Research (7) Democracy (6) Excuses (6) Facebook (5) Festivity (5) blogging (5) Corruption (3) Examination (3) music (3) Money (2) Driving (1)

Copyright (C)

Copyright © 2012- Dumcho Wangdi. All Rights Reserved

 
 
Blogger Templates