Replies attached to ICT exam paper
Exam papers at an Mcast ICT exam had to be collected immediately after it was found that the answers were attached.
Labour MP Evarist Bartolo asked Education Minister Dolores Cristina whether the students had confirmed that a lecturer had given then the answers to exam questions before the exam was held.
Replying, the minister said the students had not denied that this episode took place. What took place was while the exam was underway. When the lecturer realised that the replies were attached to the exam papers, the papers were collected immediately.
An inquiry was held and the annual increment to the salary of the lecturer involved was withheld. The lecturer has also been moved to another institute and is teaching at a lower level.
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C Abela
Nov 22nd 2009, 12:19
@ GSchembri
"Unless a lecturer at MCAST is expected to type, print, fold and distribute the exam papers, as well as set it up and distribute it to the students during the exam, in which case what is the administration being paid for? "
From the information I've got, that is the exact situation!
Peter Shaw
Nov 22nd 2009, 11:17
I know experienced and capable IT graduates that have applied for the post of ICT lecturer at MCAST and have been unsuccessful. Now after this incident I wonder what the selection criteria for the post of ICT lecturer are ?
Mark Agius
Nov 22nd 2009, 08:29
Last year MCAST students following a course in Applied Sciences were allegedly given all "distinction" in a unit without even having done the assigment,.... whilst a course of pharmacy technicians had allegedly their marks blown up for no "apparent" reason (revealed by Kullhadd).
The minister, when interviewed on "Reporter" about these allegations, seemed more bothered with pointing fingers at whoever leaked the information, rather than giving an explanation of what was being done to avoid the problem from repeating itself..... probably because little or nothing was being done... and this case is proving it! Keep it up MCAST!
Pule' Carmel
Nov 21st 2009, 22:40
To E.T.C. ( every technical college) Heed my words about standards.
G Falzon
Nov 21st 2009, 16:47
Discipline and enforcement are badly required in the civil service. Most hard workers are treated at par with stubborn defaulters with all the injustice and disincentive this brings about. The law has to be equal for all.
G.Schembri
Nov 20th 2009, 21:04
So the little fish gets all the blame. The lecturer's duty should have been to draft the questions for the exam, up to my knowledge, the lecturer would be expected to give the answers to the administration so as to make correction easier. It was the administration who should have made sure that the papers where in order. Unless a lecturer at MCAST is expected to type, print, fold and distribute the exam papers, as well as set it up and distribute it to the students during the exam, in which case what is the administration being paid for?
Gerard Cassar
Nov 20th 2009, 20:08
I again ask: what has a lecturer to do with exam papers? Is there not an ad hoc board. Are not papers printed by third persons i.e authorised and are they not kept under lock and key until the exam is due. It appears that the organisation is wrong more than an indiidual. An examiner is completly detached from the printing keeping and above all distribution and supervising. Not even his name is known to the public. Normally this is done by a supervisor. An examiner certifies that the question is without mistakes and may be printed, kept under lock and key until the examination date. There is a government director of examinations. Does he not come into the picture. He should at least be consulted. He has experience how to hold exams. Formerly he was the centre of all exams activities. Is it no more so.! If not ,things ought to be reformed and the Director of exams given his proper responsibilities not just receive applications and fees. All this was reformed in the 1970-1980 to make them fullproof of abuses. The subject of examinations is so a delicate one. It had been reformed it seems uslessly now.
Vince DeBono
Nov 20th 2009, 19:55
I WISH I KNEW THIS TEACHER !!! S/he made a MISTAKE and owned up to it - and took the right steps, and is now suffering for his/her honesty or honest mistake. All you below who cast so many stones... bet you are 500% sure that all other teachers in the world ( and Malta ) have never made a mistake in their lives... or is it just that you never got to know about it? If I had to send my sons for ICT lessons, this teacher would be my choice. S/he can be trusted to do the best fot the students , even at a cost to career.
Oscar Cassar
Nov 20th 2009, 19:24
Qatt ma sibt xi haga hekk jien :(
c. camilleri
Nov 20th 2009, 17:45
But why not discharg him straight away??????? Such incompetence should never be tolerated. Removing him to another institute means he can commit an other mistake there. Hon Cristina what stops you to do the right thing?
Gerard Cassar
Nov 20th 2009, 17:28
Action when "il-froga saret".P.N. Efficiency. Strange things happen under the P.N. particularly concerning examinations! Does a lecturer deal with exam questions such as printing and distributing? Exams have been in the upfront these times just as they were in the 1960 and 1990 and following 1999.
Joe Tabone-Adami
Nov 20th 2009, 15:47
Well done to the nincompoop at the root of this blunder. Suggested for "Gieh ir-Repubblika" award next month!!
Joe Cordina
Nov 20th 2009, 12:44
Thats a good way of having the average grades go up :)
Saviour Camilleri
Nov 20th 2009, 12:17
Long live Mcast...That case is just one of many. Students love this type of teachers because they dish out answers to them. What they don't consider is that their certificates are now worthless for employers. And unluckily those who really deserve what they have worked for, suffer because of the bad reputation Mcast has got now! Thanks to the political heads for blasting Mcast ICT with students at all costs with the false impression that industry needs them and WANTS them.
Conrad Borg
Nov 20th 2009, 12:05
Xejnsew.com.mt
Paul Barrett
Nov 20th 2009, 11:56
Oh - spoil sports. Wish my exam papers had had the answer attached LOL.