At a youth conference held in Nay Pyi Daw yesterday, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi announced a nation-wide change in the national education system’s grading structure, namely, from numbered grades to letters.
Although the new system has already been in place since last August for students in grades up to ninth grade, the government plans on implementing it for tenth-grade students’ matriculation exams as well.
However, such a radical alteration has garnered its critics, who in this case are mainly the parents of students.
‘What’s interesting is that students are supportive of this change because it reduces the pressure that’s placed on them. They no longer have to compare and compete with one another over a disparity of three or four marks,’ Suu Kyi said.
‘It’s the parents who aren’t happy with the change — they’re the ones who need to be educated. Perhaps they should go back to school and take exams; then they’ll realize just how much pressure there is.’
According to the new system, 80% and over constitutes an A, 60-79% is a B, and 40-59% is a C. National university entrance requirements will also be adapted in accordance with the new letter grades.
Although parents may be displeased, many government authorities within the education sector have noted that most countries use letter grades, and that this method is much more beneficial for students.
Sorry, parents — you’ll have to take your competition elsewhere.
