Exams: one form of assessment

The death of E. Premkumar after failing his SPM examination is indeed a dreadful episode.  Why such a tragic happening? This is not the first time such a tragedy has occurred. Failure in examination should not be a cause for a student to end his life.

Unwarranted pressure and high expectations on the part of parents, school administration and teachers can be cited as causes for such incidents.

Such happenings is because society at large are looking at examinations as a source of pride and honour for the family, household, school, education department and the Ministry of Education.

There seems to be an academic rat race among students. After all, examination is just one part of education, that is a form of evaluation of the student’s academic achievement. Academic advancement can be gauged by many ways and one of it through examinations and tests.

Parents need to understand that examination is not the sole issue and concern in education. Students should be taught to see education as wholesome, not studying just to pass examinations. If a student has not passed his examination, does it mean he or she is not clever?  Why despise and ridicule the student for not passing an examination? 

Parents should learn to accept children as they are. Not everyone can score all As. It is demoralizing students when you compare one with another. Each and every one is unique, just the fingers of a hand.

Scoring all As doesn’t mean that the student is successful in his life. There are many factors that enable a student to be successful in life.

All the time, A achievers are appreciated and glorified, where else the non A achievers are not given any recognition or even acknowledgement by parents, schools and society at large. Celebrations and jubiliations are for the A achievers.  The so-called low and moderate achievers also need celebrations and appreciation for passing examinations. They also need motivation and assurance from all quarters. But, sad to say such events are not happening.

Actually, we are the one that categorize students as high, moderate and low achievers. In education, we should not put them in such categories.

Perhaps, parents and teachers need to change their perception of education. We need to see education as wholesome. A student in his journey through schools and colleges should enjoy education, not mugging and struggling to compete in a rat race with his counterparts.  At the end of the day, education should mould a person to become a good citizen, a better equipped person to face the onslaught of life and succeed in his life.

Let us all, lend a hand and work together to take away the phobia of examinations from the minds of our children. Let them learn to see examinations as one facet of the education system.

Parents, teachers, education department and concerned parties should not unduly put pressure on children until they are psychologically and emotionally disturbed. Show more love and compassion to children and prepare them to face education in a positive approach.