School is out! Homework and studying is over! Or is it really?
That is a question that comes to the mind of former Roncalli
students when the time for supplementary exams rolls around.
Students who do not pass a course get the chance to write a supplementary
exam at the start of the next school year. This depends on the
student's average at the end of the school year. Any students
with an average between 40% and 49% will receive this second
chance to take a supplementary exam in Math, English, or Science. |
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But the supplementary exams raise concerns and questions among
some people at the school. They wonder if these exams are necessary.
Should a student receive this second chance after having all
year to succeed?
Twenty-six students wrote their supplementary exam during the
first week of our school year. Out of the 26 students who wrote
the exam, only eight students passed, with the highest mark being
55%. Two out of the eight passing students were in Grade 12 and
they needed the courses to graduate.
What will happen to the other six students? Will they head
into the basic program for courses like Math and English? On
the other hand, what about those Grade 12 students who needed
these courses to graduate? If there were no supplementary exams,
those students would have to repeat the year. Now, because of
those exams, these students are able to go on to pursue a career
for their future.
With only a 31% passing rate, is it worth putting time into these
exams on the part of the teachers, the students and the parents?
Do the students really take this seriously?
"Yes, there should be supplementary exams because it
gives the student a chance to make up for his/her mistakes on
the final exam," says Marc Mochon, a Grade 12 student.
The opportunity to write these exams poses questions at our school
and the questions create confusion and concern. But are they
worth it?
"Yes, there should be supplementary exams because I passed
my supp this year," says Brian O'Keefe, who is now attending
Grade 12 classes.
Let's hope that this year that supps will not need to written.
If they are, then everyone should get ready for them over the
summer and not wait until it's time to write them. |