Whoever decided to restrict the amount of papers for students to write on on April 30 during Paper 2 in English Language of the Matsec examination was really asking too much.

Most students were more worried about the length of their writing, than what they were actually writing about. Isn't it enough that these children have so much pressure? Do we always have to find new ways to add to it? Two measly pages to write an essay, and no extra pages could be handed out, no matter what the situation.

The cherry on the cake however was that the exam format was actually changed! After months of working past papers, children were unprepared for the new layout. Three comprehensions instead of two, with a 'summary' linking the three readings in an argumentative way. And there were only three options available in essay titles, instead of the usual six. Are we expecting little Einsteins?

Then we get statistics breathed down our neck about Maltese children being the most stressed. Well, it's quite obvious that in Malta students are not being tested on what they know or how well they know it, but rather we seem to be going out of our way to trip these students up so as to confuse them as much as possible.

This last bit goes to all those students sitting for the Common Entrance right now as well. As somehow, every year something always crops up to confuse students in all Maltese public exams!

Unfortunately, we as parents seem to be failing our children, since most accept these anomalies. It is only a few who actually complain, most come up with "Heqq, x'taghmel, Malta qeghdin!" Come on parents, wake up and do something!

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