The administration in six municipalities in Grenland has today agreed to cancel the oral examination in the tenth grade after an overall assessment.
– I was very happy. We have dreaded the oral exam, since we have had a lot of home schooling, says student council leader and tenth grader Sol Angelica Bergsli-Berntsen at Gjerpen ungdomsskole in Skien.
She says it varies how much physical school students have had during the pandemic. Some have been more in quarantine or or had home school more than others.
Good solution
The six municipalities that cancel oral exams are Bamble, Drangedal, Kragerø, Porsgrunn, Siljan and Skien. It seems that mayor Hedda Foss Five (Labor Party) in Skien is a sensible and good solution.
– There are many students who have lost many weeks of teaching. Especially the last few weeks here in Grenland. Many have been quarantined and been at home without receiving the education they normally receive, says Five.
Mayor Hedda Foss Five (Labor Party) is also relieved that the oral exam is dropped in Grenland.
Photo: Anne Lognvik / NRK
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Fear unpredictable exam
In February, the government canceled the written exam for graduating students this spring in upper secondary school and upper secondary school. But not the oral. According to the municipalities in Grenland, they are responsible for ensuring that the examination is carried out in a professionally sound manner.
The municipalities believe that the infection pressure in Grenland has been great. Many of the pupils in the 10th grade in several of the municipalities have throughout May experienced a teaching characterized by waiting quarantines, quarantines and home schooling.
The heads of upbringing are concerned that many students, when completing an oral exam, will have an unpredictable and unsatisfactory experience.
Students run the risk of preparing for an exam that may be canceled because the teacher or examiner is quarantined or ill.
– I’m relieved! I am a mother of four children and have looked closely at how much waiting quarantines, home schooling and other interruptions children and young people have had this school year. I think it is sad if they should experience a downturn by getting into a situation that we have not given them the opportunity to master this year, says Five.
Will not be sensor
The municipalities write that several teachers refuse to be examiners. They also believe that it will also not be a good solution if some of the sensors meet digitally. The students do not get equal opportunities if some are examined via a screen and others physically, they believe.
– Are these municipalities alone in Norway to make this decision?
– I’m not sure. I have not heard of anyone else, says Five.
The student organization also does not know of other municipalities that have done the same.
In the event of cancellation, students miss out on being assessed by an external examiner. But Five believes the students would have experienced an oral exam as stressful and uncomfortable because many have gaps in their knowledge after many quarantines.
Think more should cancel
Teachers are also happy with the decision.
– Municipalities should look at the same solution. We are asking ourselves to take the oral exam at all due to the following pandemic has been received in the school, says leader Solveig Hals for the Education Association in Vestfold and Telemark.
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