Madam, – The current discussion on grade inflation brings back fond memories of when I taught in a third-level college in Ireland in the 1980s. The EU had given money to finance students who wished to proceed from a two-year certificate course to a third year of study which would result in the award of a diploma.
However, there was a problem. None of the students who had completed the two-year course had received the necessary marks to allow them to proceed to the third year. No problem: at the examination board meeting, the head of the college decided that the grades of all the students should be increased to the required entry level for the diploma course.
Instant grade hyperinflation was necessary to “get the EU money.” – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I am a fifth-year secondary school student. The allegations of students being awarded more points than they deserve (Weekend Review, March 6th) and the “dumbing down” of the education system, has been distracting and disheartening over the past few days. Earlier, I heard Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe telling a reporter that students these days are being “given points”.
There is clearly a problem with the education system. Teachers now have the ability to predict whole Leaving Certificate exam papers. Over the past six months I have repeatedly heard my teachers saying that the Leaving Cert is a game: we just have to beat it.
I’m expected to learn off answers for a vast number of lengthy questions, which get more and more difficult as the years progress, and our ability to learn off what is put in front of us accelerates, leaving no choice but to join in the game. To beat the system. – Yours, etc,