No to paper exams – Students protest

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KUWAIT CITY, June 7: A group of parents and Grade 12 students demonstrated in front of the Ministry of Health building, with parliamentary participation, to protest the Ministry of Education’s decision to hold paper tests for government school students. The protesters demand that the Ministry treats the public and private education students on equal footing and opt for online exams. They have called on the Ministry of Health to intervene to protect the students and their families from the risks of infection with “Corona” in light of the current epidemiological situation and the high number of infections and deaths in the country.

However, the Ministry of Health confirmed that it is not the concerned authority to determine the mechanism and tool for academic evaluation of the student. In an official statement, the Ministry of Health, in response to the vigil, affirmed its keenness on the health and safety of every individual in this society, and clarified that its role is to set and follow up the implementation of health requirements, according to the conclusions of the decision of the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Education, and that it is not the concerned authority that determines the mechanism of students’ assessment. For his part, MP Farz Al-Daihani said he “supports the people’s demands in rejecting paper tests and adopting electronic tests in light of the current health situation in the country,” and referred to the reports of the Ministry of Health about deaths and infections caused by the virus.

Al-Daihani pointed out paper tests in schools refl ects a lack of health awareness, stressing that he conveyed the message through the Parliament to the Prime Minister, Minister of Health and Minister of Education, to reject paper tests, and vowed to stand by his demand. MP Saud Bouslaib said he is surprised by the Ministry of Education decision to hold paper exams in light of the health situation and the high number of infections, and called the decision illogical because the students were taught online throughout the year and the written exams are held at the end of the year. By Marwa Al-Bahrawi Al-Seyassah, Arab Times Staff

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