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SUMMARY:Meeting the challenges of change in assessment systems: A Maltese 
 perspective - Professor Frank Ventura (University of Malta)
DTSTART:20101021T102000Z
DTEND:20101021T120000Z
UID:TALK25700@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:14709
DESCRIPTION:Currently in Malta they are at the initial stages of reforming
  the system of assessment used in the upper primary and lower secondary cl
 asses. The main focus of the reform is on the replacement of the two selec
 tive examinations that channel primary school pupils to different types of
  secondary schools according to their achievement with non-selective asses
 sment that recognises diversity and promotes a holistic education. This is
  the second time that the reform has been attempted. The first time was in
  the 1970s when it failed dramatically after a few years in operation and 
 the traumatic experience it generated has left a scar on the Maltese educa
 tional psyche. Since then\, thousands of 16-year-olds have completed compu
 lsory schooling without external certification\, with low self esteem and 
 no enthusiasm for further learning.\n\nThis time round they must ensure th
 at the reform succeeds. Professor Frank Ventura believes that for this to 
 happen they must recognise the challenges faced in the 1970s and explore w
 hy they overwhelmed the thrust of the reform. His presentation will discus
 s the changes in educational assessment proposed in the 1970s and the reac
 tions to them. He will then compare the challenges of the 1970s with the o
 nes they face today as he believes that they are not very different though
  the context is certainly different.\n\nThis presentation traces the exper
 iences of change in the Maltese context\, however\, the identification of 
 the challenges involved applies to other contexts\, especially those where
  ‘high stakes’ examinations are still important in determining educati
 onal progress. 
LOCATION:Robinson College\, Grange Road\, Cambridge
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