I have frequently drawn attention to the allegation that when the State is
involved in quasi-monopolistic education, then standards will inevitably
decline with the result that increasing numbers of school-leavers are less
able to be able to take up jobs in developing areas of the economy.
We have just had our exam results for 16 and 18 year-olds in the UK. As for
decades past, more students have gained higher results this year.
However, Geoffrey Woodhouse, the recently retired Chief Inspector of
Schools and Jeffrey Robinson, Chief Maths Inspector of one of the Cambridge
Board, have both said in the last few days that standards have been
declining for decades. The teaching content has been diluted from year to
year and pass thresholds lowered.
But the most astonishing evidence of all has come from Arran Fernandez, a
five-year old boy (a few days from his sixth birthday when he took the exam
-- to which he also took his Teddy Bear). He gained a GCSE in mathematics
(normally taken by 16-year olds). I do not want to detract from the success
of this precocious little boy, but he's either a super-genius with an
astronomical IQ who will one day rule the world, or it's further evidence
concerning the exam standards in this basic subject. His father has said,
"I believe any child can do this. I think part of his story is not just his
accomplishments at his age; it's why other children can't do this."
Keith Hudson
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Keith Hudson, General Editor, Calus <http://www.calus.org>
6 Upper Camden Place, Bath BA1 5HX, England
Tel: +44 1225 312622; Fax: +44 1225 447727;
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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