Kampuchean students denied aid in understanding examinations

Press, 27 November 1986, Page 6

Kampuchean students denied aid in understanding examinations

PA Wellington A Hutt Valley secondary school principal is upset at an Education Department decision not to allow Kampuchean pupils to have help in understanding the School Certificate examinations.

Taita College applied for five Kampucheans to have reader-writers — people who would read out the written questions to the students — with them at examinations, but this was refused. One Kampuchean sitting the woodwork examination on November 20 brought a Khmer dictionary with him for translation, but* the examination supervisor,

after consulting the department, turned this down as well. The rulings have upset the Taita principal, Mr Bob Wilson. He said the English of the students was not good. “The sophisticated language of an examination is very difficult for them,” Mr Wilson said. When the school employed reader-writers for the pupils during school examinations, the difference in marks was “quite incredible” — just over 20 per cent. One pupil’s practical ability at woodwork was “the best I have seen, yet we cannot help him.” He said he was told the

department’s decisions were based on its regulations.

The Kampuchean pupils have been at the college since the third form, and Mr Wilson said he was worried for another five entering the third form next year. The assistant director of the department’s examinations and assessment unit, Mr Lyall Perris, said provision for assistance during examinations made no allowance for students with English as a second language.

Taita’s request came only a few days before the. examination, and the department felt it could not change an existing

policy at that point because it would not be able to approach other pupils who might also then be eligible for help.

The School Certificate Board felt it had to consult teachers and employers before the policy could be changed. Policy was being reviewed, and any change would probably take effect in 1987, Mr Perris said.

School Certificate results did not determine a pupil’s right of entry to the sixth form. If a school felt a pupil’s performances in the examination did not reflect true ability, it was free to promote those pupils to thfe sixth form, he said.