Assistant Undersecretary for Evaluation Affairs to QNA: Preparations Completed, 13497 Students Will Take General Secondary Exams

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) has completed all preparations for the start of the end-of-semester exams “first round” for the General and Specialized Secondary Certificates for the academic year 2022/2023, which will start on Sunday, May 28, 2023, and will continue until June 7, 2023.

In an interview with Qatar News Agency , Assistant Undersecretary for Evaluation Affairs at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) Khaled Abdullah Al Harqan said that 13497 students will take the General Secondary Examinations this year, distributed among 77 exam centers in schools, explaining that the early preparations and arrangements taken by the Ministry in this context aimed for male and female students to perform their exams in a comfortable and reassuring environment and atmosphere that would contribute to their obtaining the highest grades and averages.

He stated that these early preparations included the completion of setting exam questions for the general secondary certificate in its various tracks, in a balanced manner, by specialized teams formed for this purpose from the education and evaluation sectors of the Ministry, as well as completing the printing and packaging of the questions, so that it will be ready for the start of the exams next Sunday morning, stressing that the MOEHE attaches great importance to the safety and confidentiality of the General Secondary Certificate exams, their strength and efficiency and the interest of the student. In this context, he referred to the full coordination with the Ministry of Interior in the issue of transferring exams to remote schools in the outer regions in the north and south and the Dukhan region.

Al Harqan pointed out that all exam questions for each subject are sent to schools early on the morning of the exam itself, and are delivered in coordination with the schools, in addition, there are controls for opening question boxes and envelopes inside schools at a specific time within the responsibilities of school administrations under the supervision of representatives and specialists of the evaluation sector.

With regard to the committees charged with correcting test questions and evaluating grades, Assistant Undersecretary for Evaluation Affairs at the MOEHE told QNA that the selection of teachers assigned to this task has been completed, bearing in mind that the correction process takes place in the evening period on the day of the test itself within the committees designated for this purpose. He added that regarding the organizational matters related to exams, school committees were formed, and they are responsible for the process of supervising and monitoring exams in schools.

Al Harqan also pointed out that the rotation and exchange of observers between schools are among the exam controls to ensure their performance in the utmost transparency and impartiality and to avoid any fears or doubts about them, pointing out that what is new with regard to the General Secondary Certificate Examinations for the academic year (2022/2023) is the amendments introduced by the Ministry to the evaluation policy in order to provide support and assistance to low-performing students in order to limit their academic failure, and thus enable them to continue their educational path.

Assistant Undersecretary for Evaluation Affairs urged school administrations to explain the various controls and procedures related to the proper conduct of exams to students and work to provide the appropriate environment for them to perform their exams with ease and comfort and in an atmosphere that motivates them to succeed and excel.

He also advised parents to help their children study and provide everything needed at home to get the highest scores and stand by them during the exam period, and the students to work hard.

Khaled Abdullah Al Harqan advised the students to avoid any summaries of study materials that are sold in libraries or other school summaries, and to focus instead on the textbook, the approved curriculum, and the extensive explanation provided by the teacher. He also stressed on the need to commit not to bring mobile phones, electronic watches, and any other wired or wireless electronic devices inside the examination committees. (MORE)

Source: Qatar News Agency