Commentary
Inside Iraq - McClatchy Newspapers
Final Examinations in a save environment
Posted by Correspondent Hussein
Thu Jul 3, 10:15 AM ET
I heard rumors three months ago that the final examinations of the high schools in Baghdad wouldn't be held in schools where the students were supposed to have taken those tests. This rumor proved true when the Ministry of Education announced that universities and institutions were to be the sites for the final examinations. The minstry said the reason behind change is a "security matter."
For me as a teacher I know that security is a big deal, but there are several other issues here. For the last two years, the miltias have forced teachers in some hot spots in Baghdad to help students answer the questions or let them cheat. Otherwise, the gunmen threatened to kill them.
So the ministry decided it wanted to control the exams and give a fair chance to all students. In addition, several neighborhoods are still concidered not safe for some teachers to go, although they be safe for others and the students who live in the area.
The other main point is that universities and institutions are better as places to have the exams because they have most of the comforts the students and teaching staff lack in their schools. For example , most of the schools don't have air conditioning, while the universities have the power on all the time--a dream for students taking the exams.
Also teachers feel safe if they have the examinations in safe spots with no pressure from the gunmen.
I met a student yesterday after he had his examination in biology .He was so happy though he didn't do well in the exam. He said, "I am in Baghdad University despite the face that I haven't graduated from high school yet." He said that the situation in the university was better than in his school. Another student confirmed the sense of comfort he felt about the security situation, but he was upset about the long distance that he had to travel to reach the university.
Eventually, officials, teachers and students were satsified to have the examinations held in a save environment, although it was a new place for them.
As a teacher, I think that despite the new surroundings, the far distances some have to travel and the possible distractions of comforts like air conditioning, whatever we can do to help them concentrate on these important tests is worth doing.
At last, the government did something right.
