Students Urged to be Punctual, Observe Silence
The Ministry of Education has urged students to strictly follow examination rules by being punctual and to observe silence during the exam period. The ministry’s senior education examination officer Amitesh Chandra enlightened students after the ministry had in its observations of past years’ exams found students not adhering to rules.
Mr Chandra said teachers must remind their students and be firm for the fairness of all students.
He highlighted this at the start of the Year Six Examination yesterday.
Across the country, 16,000 students are sitting for the external annual exams. The exam ends today. Mr Chandra said: “We will not take this matter lightly, supervisors who see students talking during exams, will notify the ministry,” he said.
“For Year Six students this will be their first their external exams, supervisors have been asked to remind them of exam rules and to make them feel comfortable.
“If students need to visit the washroom or need any sort of assistance from the exam supervisors, they should knock on their desk two to three times in a discreet way, not to disturb other students.
“Supervisors are to monitor students use of twinks. Some students use it heavily making it difficult for examiners to understand answers thus students can lose a mark,” he said.
“We are trying to create awareness like such double checking of students’ index numbers by chief supervisors.
“We have informed supervisors time and again to ensure that students write down their correct index number. This is the most important element for recount of marks and to ratify when problems are raised by students.
“No one, other than the supervisors or education officers, will enter or be in an examination room during an examination.”
In Suva
Marika Turaga was a proud dad as he waited for his son, Sakiusa, of Holy Trinity Anglican School to finish his English paper.
“We have been guiding him since the beginning of the year so he is well prepared for his papers,” he said.
The father-son duo hail from Naivakacau Village in Tailevu. Mr Turaga, and other parents had organised breakfast and lunch for the 95 students sitting the external examinations.
School headteacher Emmanuel Kumar said he was grateful to all the parents for supporting the students during this time.
The school had a percentage pass rate of 86 per cent last year for the Year 6 Examinations.
Mr Kumar is confident they will surpass that result this year.
Across the country, 16,000 students are sitting for the external annual exams.