Pro
Con
- Examinations test a student’s attainment of knowledge in school & to determine whether a student has reached a certain required level
- To measure differences between students
- To allow a teacher to see whether he/she is teaching successfully or not
- Success in higher education guarantees a brighter future in the society and results in giving access to jobs
- To make sure that the teacher and student follow certain paths laid down in the syllabus
- Inconsistencies in marking within one examination and personal bias on the part of the teacher/examiner causing the mark of a certain examination not reflecting the real ability or knowledge that a student possesses.
- Cannot judge a student by his grades
- Students do not perform well under certain conditions
- Parents spend a lot of money for tuition to ensure that their children score well in the examinations
- Students study what they have to study for the sake of passing examinations- not the important aspects of life e.g. compassion and patience
- Teachers pressure their students unnecessary for the sake of the school’s reputation
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teachers tend to hurry through the syllabus and teach what is required to in examinations |
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schools gear students towards passing examinations |
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Schools sidetrack from the real purpose of gaining real knowledge |
- Breeds the unhealthy ‘kiasu’ culture in students; making them selfish individuals and causing a lot of unhappy endings for students who don’t know how to handle stress