The recent publication in South Africa of the results of pilots of the new National Benchmark Tests – tests which measure the performance of school-leavers in three key areas and aim to predict whether or not they will have difficulty as they enter university – has brought a flurry of outrage from academics and politicians. They are reported as claiming that standards are dropping and students can’t read or write. While this sort of knee-jerk reaction to tests conducted at a national level is largely predictable, especially in a country where the school system still experiences huge problems, it is also questionable given research produced in the field of academic development – an area which has long concerned itself with the issue of student ‘under-preparedness’ at universities…….
To read the rest of this article by Chrissey Boughey on University World News Click Here!
Filed under: Edu News (South Africa), Higher Education, Reports | Tagged: academics, Chrissey Boughey, dropping, lack, matrics, National Benchmark Tests, performance, reaction, reading skills, school-leavers, South Africa, standards, student under-preparedness, universities, university entrance, University World News, writing skills | Leave a Comment »
