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Multiple-choice questions to blame for low grades
December 11, 2008

A leading mathematician yesterday said Thai children's low academic standards could be blamed on multiple-choice questions used in examinations.

Prof Narong Punnim was speaking a day after the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST) announced that an international assessment showed that Thai students were not up to par in mathematics and science. IPST added that the performance had clearly dropped when compared with a previous assessment.

"Multiple-choice questions have been an ongoing problem in Thailand's education system," Narong pointed out. "Such evaluation methods are destroying our children but most teachers are still unaware of it."

He explained that multiple-choice questions allowed children to pick any answer and still stand a chance at passing the exam.

Narong, a lecturer at Srinakharinwirot University, chaired the mathematics panel at the Promotion of Academic Olympiads and Development of Science Education Foundation under late Princess HRH Galyani Vadhana's patronage.

The professor also criticised the procedure of repeatedly holding make-up exams until students pass.

"As far as I know, Chitralada School is the only school that requires its students to repeat a course if they fail the exam," he said.

He said he also disagreed with the methods used by teachers these days.
"The teachers are too preoccupied with getting their students through entrance exams, instead of concentrating on giving them knowledge," Narong complained.

nationmultimedia.com

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