Opinion divided on increased exam success

An increase in the number of students who passed this year's Ministry of Education exams has been attributed by educators and students to easier tests while others say it was due to new teaching methods.

A large increase in the number of students who passed this year's Ministry of Education exams is being attributed by educators and students to easier tests. Others, including the education minister, say the improvement is a result of new teaching methods and a move away from rote memorisation to a more modern system. The results for this year's common Ministry of Education Grade 12 exams were released earlier this week. The results include students at public schools as well as a number of private schools that follow the MoE curriculum. The pass rate for public school students in the science track was almost 92 percent, up from 83.2 percent last year. Students in the literary track saw a slight improvement, with a pass rate of 77.7 percent, compared to 74.3 percent last year. The number of students in Grade 12 who choose the science track is less than half that of students in the literary track. Educators, parents and students complained last year that the ministry's exams were too difficult, and were geared for the top flight of students. [e-mail]