It is a sad state of affairs when those studying for exams are let down by the establishment. A number of factors combine to make it more challenging for students to do well, while the rewards for actually doing well are diminishing.
Schools are desperate to look good, and so have in many cases adopted a flawed approach of offering exams in subjects that are easier to teach, and easier to do well in. In the 1996/7 academic year, half of all fifteen-year-olds (293,000 students) sat GCSEs in English, Maths, Sciences, a language and History or Geography. By 2010 only 22% (141,000) were studying those key/traditional subjects. Schools have aimed for a boost in league table positions, while the kids are conned. Good old Labour, halving the quality. Also, non-academic qualifications dished out since 2004 have increased by 3800%.
So, is it that exams are getting easier? Are teaching methods now targeted so that pupils are instructed how to get marks rather than learn? Possibly a bit of both. So, the losers are actually the students, especially when it's now expected that anyone worth anything will have achieved numerous A or A* grades. Watering down the value of an A was done some years ago, and the introduction of the A* means an A is now 'run of the mill'. In fact, in some people's eyes, an A is a failure as it's not the top grade. How mad!
Universities are faced with many more students than they have places for, and distinguishing between candidates is becoming impossible. To help in assessments, universities are commonly looking at GCSE results, as A Level results don't provide enough variation. So with three good A Levels, a candidate might not be offered a university place because a rival had three stars next to the 'A' grades at GCSE level. However, both candidates may not be given a place, if some of the positive discrimination policies work their way through - ie. if you come from a poor background, then that "trumps" a clever kid whose parents work hard and earn money.
A quarter of girls pass GCSEs at A or A*. There's been almost a tripling of the proportion of A grades since the exam was introduced in 1988. This does nothing to help employers, universities or the students. Cynics now write off the efforts to pass exams, saying it's easier to pass now. Well, the cynics are right. It doesn't mean the students don't work hard, but it does mean that the system is fucked.
Labour drove far too many people towards education. What with EMA, and government encouragement, stupid numbers of young people stayed in education and then sauntered off to get degrees in anything that was going. Now we have some realisation. We reached a stage where almost half of all people took higher education, so there's an inevitable mismatch between the aspirations and expectations of young people with bits of paper, and the employers who have to give jobs out to hopeful candidates who often face odds of 1/100 against landing the job.
Too many people spend time getting passes in things that will do them no good, delaying the point at which they will have to work out how to earn a living. Parents and taxpayers spend money keeping them in education, deferring what will then be a tidal wave of claimants for benefits, when they either finish education or leave because they cannot afford to carry on - or, discover they are not actually clever enough.
Benefit claimants will thus comprise those who are thick, or useless, or lazy or cunts, alongside those who are clever, confused, disappointed and not catered for. The economy is in dire straits, and there will be thousands of disappointed people who have talent, a reasonable level of education but no income, waiting on a chance to do something with their lives. There will be as many other who are in the same situation, but have done nothing to try and help themselves. This will breed resentment all round.
Knowing when to stop is as important as motivating yourself to start. Getting an education and qualifications is important, but knowing you've reached the exit level is just as important. The government of the day has a responsibility to maintain standards, and a balanced system so that all parties benefit. If the testing is not right, then nothing will be right. I fear we have perhaps 'teased' thousands of youngsters, wasting their time with education that will serve no purpose.
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