MCAST students concerned about exam results with resits less than a week away

MCAST students are yet to receive their exam results even though resits are less than a week away, The Malta Independent is informed.

In previous academic years, the resits, known as synoptic assessments at MCAST, took place during the first weeks of September, as is the case with most other educational institutions.

However, it appears that concerns have been raised that this year the synoptic assessment period, which starts on 21 June, was scheduled a day after the June exam/assignment period ended on 20 June. Given the close proximity of the sessions and the substantial workload educators face with corrections, it is of little surprise that there appears to be a significant delay with the publication of results.

Social media posts from students indicate that they were told that they should know whether or not they failed a particular unit when contacting MCAST to complain about the situation.

Contacted yesterday, an MCAST spokesperson to laid to rest such concerns, explaining that MCAST does not operate on the model of an exam and a corresponding resit, but, rather, employs a system of continuous assessment whereby the mark is not determined only by the last assessment.

“In this system students would know before the last assessment whether they will make use of the synoptic,” College explains.

“The final assignment is a small proportion compared to the overall assessment. In practice, there is at least a one-week gap between the issuing of results and the synoptics. The question is being taken into the context of one exam and a corresponding re-sit. This system is not like that.

“Both educators and union were consulted, as such decisions are taken by the Council of Institutes in which educators and students are represented.”