The Sunday News
Dr Sikhanyiso Duke Ndlovu
STUDENTS take the whole year studying and an hour’s examination can change the student’s whole life positively or negatively.
There is a need for the examinations authorities to look into the possibility of introducing continuous assessment marks which should count towards the final examination marks. Examination results release is critical in the life of a student. Positive results make the students excited and look forward to either further education or employment opportunities or to establishing own business.
Negative results cause unhappiness and a sense of broken self-esteem, helplessness and even depression. Some may even commit suicide. We have had many cases of suicide committed by students after failing examinations. This must not be allowed to happen.
Need for psychological counselling and professional guidance for students after examinations
To avoid student depression and possible suicidal tendencies, there is a need for parental support and guidance instead of castigating the student who may have failed. There must be parental accommodation and sympathy. There should be positive reinforcement and psychological counselling so that the student should feel that their failure to get the required grade is not the end of the world. Colleges should also play a parental role and should advise the student on repeating or on various options.
At ZDECO, for example, students when collecting their results get a letter from the directors congratulating them for passing the examinations and expressing sympathy to the student for not meeting the required grades. The student is further advised on opportunities to repeat and on possible careers. The student self-esteem must not be destroyed because of not passing the examination.
Examination item analysis
In tests and measurement item analysis is an evaluation of the examination test items or questions to determine the examination validity and reliability. For example, if 90 to 100 percent of students fail an examination an item analysis may reveal that the examination questions might be lacking validity in that they were supposed to measure or might be irrelevant. Reliability means that if the exam is repeated it is likely to produce the same results. In cases of lack of validity examinations authorities may order a re-development and re-examination carried out.
Examinations designers and makers must also be evaluated and held accountable.
Education is critical for our citizens, nationally and internationally. We must therefore make sure that the teaching and examinations are impeccable and serve the students positively for their future development, family, the community and the nation. There must be positive reinforcement to students who may not have done well and they should be given another opportunity and or other positive alternatives.
How to pass the examination
To many students, examinations bring anxiety due to uncertainty of the nature of the exams — will they be easy or difficult?
When examinations are taken some students come out smiling others come out sad. When exam results come, some students dance with joy if they have passed; others become devastated if they have failed.
1. The first important position is studying and revising to prepare for exams
2. There is a need for small group discussions in order to pass that examination among students
3. Mock examinations using past exam papers are important for success in exams. There is nothing like good luck for passing examinations. The student must have studied and prepared well to pass the examination.
4. Study Habits:
It is important to divide the time between work, play and rest. The cellphones, tweeting, WhatsApp and Facebook should be minimal as they take away the mind from study and examination preparations. These do not give the mind rest and focus. The student should eat good meals and sleep well. They should not try to solve problems they cannot solve during the sleeping hours.The learners should make studying enjoyable. The learners should be psychologically prepared for study — the mind must be made ready for study — all possible mind disturbing problems and intrusion should be eliminated.
5. Taking the examination:
Students must come early for examinations. Rushing into the exam room puffing is not good. When exam papers are placed on the desks for the students, they should first read all questions and then select which questions to start with. They should start with easier questions instead of starting with the difficult ones which may take more time thus failing to gain marks on easier questions first.
6. Understanding the examination questions:
It is important for the students to read and understand the context of the question and what the examiner wants.
7. Nature of the examination:
An examination question may be a cognitive one, that is, requiring answers of recall like history or geography. Cognitive also refers to comprehension, like reading a passage to understand the main idea and related ideas so as to make a correct response and interpretation. In sociology the student may be asked to describe, explain or analyse certain sociological phenomena in society. The answers must be done well and diligently.
8. The Psychomotor Domain:
The psychomotor domain refers to practical activities to answer practical questions. This is not done in isolation of the cognitive domain because the learner must be intelligent enough to understand the subject and comprehend the practical activities required before undertaking the practical solution activities. The cognitive and psychomotor are involved in engineering, physics, chemistry, medical operations, agriculture, physical education and many more. The student must read and understand the examination question well before embarking on the required practical answers.
9. The Affective Domain:
The affective domain means the student should develop interest in the subject. The learner should not be passive and take the subject without love and affection for it. Like the subject and you will do well. The intellectual convolutions will just fall in place logically culminating in passing with distinctions.
Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu is a Zanu-PF member of the Politburo, founder/chief executive, ZDECO Group of Colleges, curriculum research and evaluation specialist
