POLL: Do Maltese Students Benefit From Exams?
This week, Minister Evarist Bartolo launched a policy document for consultation which sees a radical re-work of the way sixth formers in Malta learn and are assessed. The document has been in planning for two years at least, and was created together with all of Malta’s sixth form institutions.
The major changes proposed to the current system (two A Level subjects, three intermediates, and Systems of Knowledge) according to the policy document would be:
- Students select five Intermediate subjects in their first year
- Intermediate subjects will include vocational ones such as hospitality and social care
- Students will choose two of these five Intermediate subjects as their A-Levels
- Second year will be increased to one full year
- Systems of Knowledge will be kept but will be revamped and taught as a modular course
- End of year exams may be replaced by different methods of assessment
The aim is to focus more on soft skills and life skills, in addition to core subjects. And the most radical change is to move away from the traditional summative exam method of assessment to a more varied approach including – presentations, practical work, computer-based assessments, group work, formal interviews, projects, written assignments and tests. It’s pretty much moving towards the University model.
But will exams be missed? Let us know if you think traditional exams – tests held within a specific time frame, under universal conditions – are still valuable for the student, or if they’re way past their sell-by date.