The debate is on whether to cancel the standardized Pruebas Nacionales, a requirement seniors need to take to be admitted to universities in the Dominican Republic, or keep them. Several in favor of the elimination say they are costly and have served for little, as the quality of graduates continues to be poor. The Ministry of Education is considering eliminating the tests. But others defend the tests and say that the tests are the only measure of the level of students for university admissions. These advocate using the tests to improve the quality of education.
Intec University Rector Julio Sanchez Mariñez says that rather than remove the standardized tests, the authorities need to insist that the findings be applied to correct situations at the schools. He told El Caribe: “The results of the tests, provided by the educational center, district and regional, should be made easy and conveniently available to all citizens, so that the comparative results of distinct analysis units can be verified and the different factors of the individual results can be explored”.
Sanchez Mariñez says the focus needs to be on actions that can be taken to determine why students have failed after so many years in school.
Esta Noche con Mariasela talk show held a Tuesday night panel so its viewers could understand what the talk is all about. During the panel, the representative for the Public Schools Teachers Association (ADP) placed the blame of the poor quality of education on the facilities at the public schools.
The situation of the low level of graduates in the DR was further evidenced in that of 70,000 aspirants to teachers in a recent contest, only 14,000 passed the tests.
Traditionally, education authorities in the Dominican Republic have gone the easy route, pressured by the highly politicized Public School Teachers Association (ADP). When students were not meeting requirements to pass, the Ministry ordered automatic grade passing. When textbooks required too much comprehensive skills, the Ministry ordered simplified textbooks be used.
As a result of the lax attitude of the educational authorities and the highly politicized teacher union is that education levels on average in the DR are among the lowest in the region.
Now, once again it seems the authorities want to take the easy way out. If the students are not passing the standardized tests, eliminate the tests.
Meanwhile, universities complain about the low level of the high school graduates they are receiving.
Follow the story:
El Caribe
Esta Noche con Mariasela
3 July 2024