Private school students’ grading to differ, based on curricula, policies

TDT | Manama

Private schools’ evaluation methods on the performance of their students can differ, according to their curricula and internal policies. This was said yesterday by the Ministry of Education’s Private Education acting director Amal Al Kaabi.

Most schools are linked to international standards that must be taken into consideration, in addition to the difference in the number of classes as well as the dates they start, she explained.

Al Kaabi further pointed out that the evaluation of the performance of secondary school students differs from the assessment methods in other educational stages in most private educational establishments.

She noted that international exams for the second stage have been either cancelled or postponed by the external parties, which are currently determining the evaluation criteria, including the International Baccalaureate Foundation that issues the IB certificate.

Many private schools that are not linked to international standards will assess students’ grades for the second or third semester, endorsing varied proportions of the quarterly and monthly exam scores before the school closure.

They will also calculate the degrees of short calendars, activities, homework and projects during the distance learning period. Another group of private schools have submitted their proposals to the Ministry of Education regarding the mechanism of students’ evaluation, which are to be studied and accredited.

Meanwhile, 76 private schools have launched online learning for their students in compliance with contingency measures taken by the Education Ministry due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The schools harnessed all their capabilities to provide e-learning for their students via Google Class Room, Olive System, Modle, Plus Portals, Zoom and Classera.

Al Kaabi said that the ministry had taken a string of measures to ensure learning continues for private school students during the closure. Teachers deliver virtual lessons to their students and supply them with the weekly programme, in addition to extracurricular material including videos and other activities.