I have opinions, dammit! (And I'm procrastinating!)

[a_blackpanther]

For the past two weeks high school students have sat their end of high-school exam. It's  nationwide exam, and you can somewhat equate it with the SAT. It's not exactly standardized and no machines correct the exam papers, but basically every student who has graduated high-school takes it.  I took it four years ago, and it was was what it was.

Now,

Comments

[hear_myself]

I do agree with absolutely everything you wrote, but I think the students are a huge reason why these results happened. The teachers that I had in high school (I think I finished 2 years before you, so not a difference) are the same that these students had. The exam I took was more or less the same. I passed without much preparation (I got tutored to get to med-school, not on the Bac subjects), based on what I learnt in class during the 4 years. Irina had no tutoring and she finished with amazing grades...and if you look at the high schools with a good reputation, few students failed.
Again, I don't disagree with you, I think the education system back home is completely screwed up and the teaching methods are outdated and obviously something needs to change. I spent one year here in Aberdeen and have seen actual teaching. But the fact is, if you want to study and if you have parents who are ready to get involved, you will study and get something out of it. I have a cousin who based on this year's Bac exam is going to England in September (9.18! :D).

Anyway, what happened this year was bound to happen at some point. I just hope in the fall, when all these students will retake the exams, the conditions will be the same. If they don't keep it up, this was useless. If they do, at least it's a change in a system that has been faulty for many years. But, as you mentioned, teachers also need to change and unless the wages go significantly up, I don't see it happening anytime soon.

Will stop now, I could keep going - this is definitely a problem that can be debated a lot!