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Semester system:
Effective evaluation
Ishara Jayawardane
Last week Punch discussed the affects of the Z score. The Z score is
on the lips of all those who take an interest in university education,
especially the youth of the country who no doubt understand that their
destinies depend on this standard. However, the Z score is not the only
subject of importance when it comes to education. The semester system
has equal bearing and importance on education.
Instigate learning
Traditionally university courses ran on for one arduous year and the
annual examination system was used to evaluate the performance of
students. Now this system has been replaced by the semester system.
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Any Employer in the world would prefer to recruit or absorb
graduates into their organizations |
The semester system the world over has been converted into a learning
system, rather than a teaching system. According to Colombo University
Vice Chancellor Professor Kshanika Hirimburegama the whole idea is for
the student to be regularly tested. “If you take the London A-level
system for example, it is not at the end of the two year period” said
the Vice Chancellor. The Sri Lankan A-levels test the students at the
end of two years. “If somebody falls ill on that particular day he or
she has to wait another whole year.”
In the semester system they are constantly tested. Consequently it is
a continuous testing and learning process, with the students
continuously updating their knowledge. It is not only an end of term
examination. Semester system entails discussions and assignments that
will not only test the students writing skills but their levels of
comprehension as well as how effectively they can manipulate the
knowledge gained.
Reading habits
But for the semester system to succeed there has to be a change in
attitudes. One objective of the semester system is to inculcate the
reading habits in the students. Students are used to taking notes and
cramming. The semester system is successful because it discourages this.
“It is a learning system; they have to read, surf the net and do
assignment and engage in discussion. That is the whole objective of the
semester and credit system” explained Prof. Hirimburegama.
“Reading habits of our students is very poor. Admission to University
faculties involves severe competition, especially the Medical faculty.
It’s an answer oriented study, involving no reading” said Hirimburegama.
Pragmatism
“Any Employer in the world would prefer to recruit or absorb
graduates into their organizations. Skills that we refer herein are the
life skills” said Brandix Lanka Ltd. Productivity Consultant Lal Fonseka.
He explained that what the private sector really expect from graduates
is the skill they posses more than their academic knowledge or genius.
Fonseka went on to say that any graduate can show their academic
brilliance, but what is the point if they cannot transform this
brilliance to the practical world? What is needed is a practical man
with excellent academic qualification. University administrators should
realize that a university degree is a basic academic qualification which
is not sufficient at all to get into a private sector organization. |
