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Midterm exams loom before Eid
KARACHI, Dec 04, 2007: Students all over the city
are busy preparing for their upcoming midterm exams that will start in the first
two weeks of December before schools are off for the Eid holidays.
Despite several unexpected and unscheduled holidays, teachers have
managed to complete a sufficient amount of the syllabus, albeit not as initially
planned. "I must admit that when our principal said that no extra classes will
be conducted on Saturdays I was very worried how the students would catch up,"
said Rukhsana Watni, a seventh-grade teacher at a local private school. "But
students these days have a smart head on their shoulders."
Watni said
her students were so keen on learning that they were even willing to give up 15
to 20 minutes of their break-time in the past couple of months just so they
could spend time understanding difficult concepts. "I was very tense whether I
would be able to cover the syllabus. I had to work wisely so as not to leave out
any important parts and I used to stay in class during most recesses so I could
check copies or edit the planner and students started coming in to ask
questions," she said.
When asked how the students revised for the
upcoming exams with so much course work to cover, some teachers were proud to
say that the students had been responsible and had put in an extra effort for
the exams. "We have given our secondary school study leave from Monday till
Friday but according to the policy of revising in class, I am proud my teachers
have done revision this past week," said Afshan Mirza, who is the headmistress
of a local school.
Some students have been benefiting from surprise
quizzes ahead of the exams. "It is not always the best thing and normally it's
not welcome, but this close to the exams it is a great way to check our weak
points," said Anaya Said, an eighth grader.
While primary and secondary
school students are prepping for their midterms, senior students are also
preparing for their mock exams. "Students don't usually sit for the mock exams
as they don't count towards their final grades but the schools still hold them,"
said Farah, a coordinator for the University of London and London School of
Economics external programs at a private college. She said that on average,
students sit the mocks for their weaker subjects.
Ali Kaleem, a BSc
student, said that he was only sitting for two exams because he
needed more practice in those two courses. He reasoned that the mocks were
another way for him to practice.
"Students will be given mock exams at
the end of the academic year as well," said Ismail Qadri, a senior economics
teacher. "But I still find the real end of term exams very important." Daily Times
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