Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) announced exam results of thousands of students worldwide who had participated in the examination, using the grade prediction system. The results were submitted by their respective schools and based on the student’s previous performance the CIE has issued grades. But not everyone is happy with the outcome!
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, CIE cancelled all examinations in March 2020 and a joint decision was taken to issue grades based on past school performance, and previous year grades. Many people thought that this was a wise and fair decision at the time.
Over 95000 students hailing from 139 countries took part in Cambridge International Examinations for the May/June session. Approximately 550 Pakistani schools received their results today; these are schools whose candidates were registered for international courses inclusive of O/A level programs, reports Express Tribune.
Christine Özden, the CEO of Cambridge International said in a statement on Monday that it took drastic measures to ensure students continue studies during the unexpected, world shaking, coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, respective schools and teachers submitted grades based on which CIE grades were issued.
However, ever since the result was announced, the results and the makeshift system has been criticized immensely; the CIE is being accused of downgrading the predictions provided by teachers.
Multiple reports reflect that almost 40% of grades submitted by teachers were deliberately downgraded for being “too generous”.
Here is what some students had to say:
@CambridgeInt
Thank you for giving such a result. The time where I am looking for an admission in a Uni, you decided to take me an year (step) backwards. I expect disappointments and this has to be the biggest.#CIE #alevels2020 #AlevelResults #resultsday2020 #resultsday— Abdul Basit 🇸🇦 | 🇵🇰 (@abdulbazit2002) August 11, 2020
Is it true that #Ofqual downgraded student grades based on their school and region's past performance?! How is anything about this fair to hardworking kids in disadvantaged environments?…and in the middle of a pandemic too#CIE #resultsday
— Sauleha (@Sauliloquy1) August 11, 2020
1/n
What the Hell. Cambridge has ruined my result. I received an ABBC in AS levels and my 2020 assessed grades have awarded me CBEC.A turned to C in Physics
B turned to C in Biology,
C turned to E in Maths
B remained B in Chemistry.
I am a private candidate and they— Bilal Ahmed (@BilalSeesAlll) August 11, 2020
Many students were shocked and disappointed, and went as far as calling Cambridge corrupt.
Shame On Cambridge!
Alevels Result 2020#SpeakForStudents #injustice_to_students #TakeAStandTogether#CorruptCambridge #CAIES pic.twitter.com/Gvr4NIbjAz— M. Talha Shahid (@mtalha0919) August 11, 2020
While some demanded retake exams:
Unfair CAIEs results @Cambridge 2020 @results students are very disappointed and shocked.
There should be a retake exams by cambridge without examination fee.— Surraiyah Shah (@Surraiyah_Shah) August 11, 2020
Cambridge Alevel Results 2020#Injustice #injustice_to_students #SpeakForStudents #StandTogether pic.twitter.com/VAfY4qUdN0
— M. Talha Shahid (@mtalha0919) August 11, 2020
There were a few people who compared the Cambridge education system to the Matriculation and Intermediate system, and stated how more than half of the student population face the same situation every year:
Cambridge students got unfair grades for the first time and they lost their shit. But Matric and Inter students deal with this every year. Our grades and marks depend on our luck and the mood of the examiner. He could cross half of your paper and you can't even challenge it
— Oshaz (@ThisIsOshaz) August 11, 2020
As per the report by Guardian, almost 2 million assessments submitted by teachers to the CIE were adjusted downwards and in some cases, were entirely ignored.
The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual)- the examination regulator in England said, that schools will be able to appeal for a recheck if they saw “a very different pattern of grades to results in previous years”. However, Ofqual will not permit individual students to make any such request against their grades based on academic grounds.
#ImranKhanJusticCAIE is trending on Twitter and students want the government to help them get their grades lifted:
Getting grades degraded from C to E or C to U is just unjust during this time when pandamic is ruling over the world and students having offer letters from cies.@CambridgeInt @BBhuttoZardari @ImranKhanPTI #bilawalbhuttovsimrankhan #imrankhanjusticeCAIE
— YoungAlly (@hassan_alyan) August 12, 2020
We have worked hard to end up in good universities only to have @CambridgeInt send us results that do NOT reflect our true academic performance. Support us like we support you! @DrMuradPTI @Shafqat_Mahmood @ImranKhanPTI #bilawalBhuttoVsImranKhan #BoycottCAIE #ImranKhanJusticeCAIE
— dania (@daniazaidii) August 12, 2020
#ImranKhanJusticeCAIE
Scotland govt helped out their students in their difficult time why not pakistani govt help us out?@ZakaWaqar@ImranKhanPTI— @SAMEEDKHANOFFICIAL (@SAMEEDKHANOFFI1) August 12, 2020
#ImranKhanJusticeCAIE @ImranKhanPTI the grades of two of my classfellows are missing , and there is a new girl who has just gotten admission in this lockdown , but still she got an A , and one of my freinds got an unfair D
these are unexpected results and our gov does'nt care pic.twitter.com/Go5SS82aE8— Ahmed Mustafa (@AhmedMu19850124) August 12, 2020
The current pandemic has affected and uprooted the lives of many and this is another nail in the coffin. Students have been trying their best to study from home, but many lack basic internet facilities in our country and therefore there studies have been adversely affected. Many even protested to reopen schools no matter what the situation.
Schools, colleges and universities in Pakistan are reopening from September 15th, all across Pakistan.
What do you think really happened? Was the prediction grading system fair? Let us know in the comments below.
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