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Macau Periodical Index (澳門期刊論文索引)
- Author
- Morrison, Keith, Gu, Wei Ping
- Title
- Does Macau need a territory-wide public examination system?
- Journal Name
- 澳門研究
- Pub. Info
- Feb. 2008, No.44, pp. 97-113
- Abstract
- Paragraph Headings: 1. Introduction 2. Examination systems in small states and territories: comparison by GDP 3. Examination systems in small states and territories: comparison by population 4. The situation of Macau 4.1. Arguments in favour of a public examination system in Macau 4.1.1. Reliability, vaildity and transparency may be greater in public examinations 4.1.2. There is less variability in criteria for awarding standards and grades in public examinations 4.1.3. The public has a right to objective, transparent, unambiguous, public domain data on which to make informed, evidence-based choices and know about school and student performance 4.1.4. A territory-wide assessment system can provide information and competition to drive up standards, by comparing schools 4.1.5. A territory-wide examination system is useful for comparing schools and students 4.1.6. There is a need for public domain evidence on school and student performance 4.1.7. There is a need for educational development (school progress, improvement and effectiveness) 4.1.8. There is a need for certification and a common standard in education selection 4.1.9. There is a need for recognition of territory's education standard 4.1.10. There is a need for greater accountability in the Macau schooling system 4.1.11. A territory-wide examination system may bring a desirable degree of harmony, uniformity and standardization within diverse educationsl provision 4.2. Arguments against a territory-wide examination system in Macau 4.2.1. Territory-wide examinations may risk the loss of whatever diversity exists in the Macau schooling system, through the backwash effect on curriculum 4.2.2. A territory-wide examination, as a standardized examination, brings its own problem of reliaility and validity 4.2.3. Why should Macau risk abandoning the autonomy of schools in having education meet the demands of a potentially centralized or single system? 4.2.4. There may be a mismatch between curricula and a territory-wide examination in Macau, given that its schools follow curricula from different countries 4.2.5. Territory-wide examinations are expensive to operate 4.2.6. What would a territory-wide examination bring that in necessary for local use, where Macau's smallness may render such information unnecessary? 4.2.7. The danger of over-emphasis on a marks-oriented education 4.2.8. The limitation of technical expertise in local personnel 4.2.9. The challenge to the quality and credibility of the credentials 4.2.10. Standardization can also bring negative effects 4.2.11. Increased an unnecessary pressure on schools, teachers and students 4.2.12. How would a territory-wide system be any better than present practice, in which diverse public examinations operate? 4.2.13. What would be the language of the assessments and examinations (CMI/MEI/Portuguese)? 5. An empirical study of Macau 6. Summary of results Tables: 1. Tensions in a territory-wide examination system in Macau 2. Should Macau have a territory-wide assessment/examination system? 3. Advantages of, and benefits from, having a territory-wide assessment/examination system in Macau 4. Disadvantages, dangers and risks in having a territory-wide assessment/examination system in Macau 5. Do disadvantages outweigh advantages or do advantages outweigh disadvantages in a territory-wide assessment/examination system? 6. The main difficulties in bringing in a territory-wide assessment system, why, how to address them, and by whom