Falsificate le valutazioni dei risultati agli esami di stato in Inghilterra?
In base alle denunce presentate da docenti e presidi, sembra che le prove sostenute da studenti agli esami di stato, in diverse scuole, siano state sottovalutate. Il motivo? Punteggi alti danno diritto a borse di studio per l’iscrizione e la frequenza alle università inglesi più prestigiose. Ma non ci sono sufficienti risorse economiche per tutti. Quindi, qualche leggera modifica alle valutazioni…
Il ministro per l’Istruzione Estelle Morris ha ordinato una prima inchiesta, a cura di un’agenzia governativa. Successivamente, lo stesso ministro, su proteste di dirigenti, docenti e famiglie, ne ha ordinata un’altra, commissionandola ad un’agenzia indipendente. Si attendono i risultati. Ma già alcuni componenti della commissione d’esami hanno ammesso di aver applicato criteri restrittivi. Certo è che la fiducia sul sistema di Istruzione inglese, in particolare sul sistema di valutazione, da questa vicenda, ne esce incrinata. E’ quanto emerge dalle dichiarazioni rese alla stampa britannica e riportate in questo ed altri articoli.
Independent Exam Inquiry Ordered
Education Secretary Estelle Morris has ordered an independent inquiry into the A-Level grades fiasco.The three main exam boards have been accused of marking pupils down to head off claims the tests were becoming too easy.Miss Morris has ordered a probe into how grade boundaries were set in a desperate attempt to save public faith in the system.
She has asked for the initial results of the inquiry to be on her desk within a week.
'Marked fairly'
She said: "Young people have a right to expect that at the end of their courses their examination papers will be marked fairly and consistently."
Miss Morris said if any inconsistencies were found she would demand the grades be recalibrated and students awarded their deserved result.
Headteachers have accused the Government's exam watchdog, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, of "pressurising" exams boards into downgrading results.
They have called for all A-level results to be rechecked, and many students and parents say they have been betrayed by the system.
The independent investigation will be led by the former chief inspector of
schools, Mike Tomlinson.
It will focus on allegations that the QCA and one exam board, OCR, deliberately altered grade boundaries and reduced pupils' grades.
Unaffected
But Miss Morris emphasised that the majority of results appeared to be unaffected and that the problem was likely to be isolated to specific schools.
Speaking at a press conference in London, she said: "This is not about the remarking of every script.
"It is about making sure that the conversion from marks to grades was determined according to proper standards and procedures."
Education department officials have already been in contact with university chiefs as they try to plot a way out of the crisis.
Universities have agreed to award places in the next academic year to any students who have missed out because of incorrect grades.