To Test or not to Test

Having studied in India all my life from nursery to my engineering, taking tests was something I had come to terms with. There were many life changing "Tests" I have given, right from the test that got me into my prestigious junior school at the age on 6, the daily test that were given by our literature teacher to make sure we knew our Shakespeare verbatim, to the life changing board exam of class 10 and 12 and finally the multiple entrance tests for engineering and management. I will not say I have ever been good at giving test and I have always done better when I had a face-to-face discussion. Hence it is understandable why I have done my utmost to forget those bad memories and maybe recurring nightmares.

However with my son now going to school and the whole new discussion about Right to Education Act,2009 in India, have again bought the whole new debate on TEST system. Today I read an very interesting article on NYtimes Testing, the Chinese Way on how US planning to move back to a test system.

I personally think that in the argument the reason behind the test is forgotten. If the test is to measure the child's performance, then there should be clear plan on what to do if the performance does not measure up. If the test is to find out if the education system is working, then a analysis and remedial action should be in place to improve the system. If the test is to find out the capability of the child then the test should be done so that it does not become a single do or die situation.

Undoubtedly I feel that tests are important to benchmark the progress, but often I find that tests have become an end goal in itself. The child, teacher, parent and the whole school system is preparing to achieve that goal and the main goal of education is lost. Education is not about passing of some test but about training the child to think, analyze and find solution by themselves.

Comments

Unknown said…
Hey Vyom,

Unless there is a test how do you know there is need/no need of more tests.

It is difficult find a solution which makes everyone happy. I feel if there are no tests then you can not quantify future goals. The only problem is every solution comes up with "be all" for all the variations of human kind.
September 22, 2010 at 10:47 AM
Vyom Khandelia said…
Neeraj,

I have no problem with testing and benchmarking. My only issue is that no one is thinking of what to do after the Test.

It is like the US policy on the Gulf War. Let us win the war and oust Saddam. But once you win the war, what is the next step no one has ?

Why does the test and the solution have to be 2 different processes ? Why does one not flow from the other ?

A Quality Check will find the issue but a Quality Assurance will fix the problem also.
September 22, 2010 at 10:59 AM
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