UAE: Exam scores are not the end of the road

Educationists, students, parents and psychologists say other yardsticks of one's school life are important too.

As many of the students and schools in the UAE continue celebrating their board exam scores there are many others who believe that the assessment through exams are not the end of the road for students. Among them are educationists, students, parents and psychologists who believe exam results may be one of the most feared things in one's education life.
High marks in any exams are of course, a matter to celebrate and be happy, they say, but add that the scores can never be a yardstick to measure a student's confidence in his or her abilities.
While most Board Exams results like SSLC, CBSE, GCSE and IB were declared recently, people think that one must get higher marks to get successful in life. In the midst of college admission mania and the hype surrounding top name colleges, it is easy to see why a high-school student with an 'average' record can feel overlooked.
Students who are a cut above the rest, not always academically
Contrary to the popular belief, many students and parents feel success cannot be determined on the basis of results alone.
Faris Syed, a student of Springdales School Dubai, had scored just 75 per cent in his Grade 12 board exams. But the 17-year-old boy is natural on stage and one of the most confident public speakers. He has been in the forefront, hosting all important school events and is undoubtedly blessed with the gift of the gab.
Syed said: "I may not have scored big academically but my teachers do see a streak of leadership quality in me. I always anchor events in school and I am a member of the Model United Nation (MUN) team. Under the MUN umbrella we discuss a range of topics pertaining to current affairs, world politics and other things. Due to my public speaking skills I have also been elected as the 'Student Voice' in my school."
He said his parents and school had been instrumental in honing his skills. "Nobody has pressurised me to focus on academics alone. I feel marks do not guarantee anything in life. Yes, they may have a use in terms of getting into a particular school at times, but that's not the criteria for what you want to do in your life, and it is not going to define you as a person, and what you can become."
Echoing similar sentiments, Tiago Grilo, a student of Gems FirstPoint School -The Villa, said academics and extra circulars go hand in hand for a well-rounded development.
Tiago has interned with Mirai partners under the Knowledge and Human Development Authority's Rahhal programme, and interviewed and networked with different industry leaders.
"While exams and marks have their own relevance being involved in extracurricular also aid you to have clear perspectives on a lot of things. The objective of these activities is to maximise the use of the importance and the benefits of studying, to prepare students in an active lifestyle, to learn about yourself and your own capabilities and to understand equations that will help you stand in good stead in future."
Many parents have a relaxed outlook
Some parents feel while extracurricular activities are very important for the overall development of a child but pushing them to pursue anything against their will can never guarantee success.
Madhulika Chatterjee, whose son is in Year 13 in Jumeirah College, said: "I do encourage him to participate in activities outside their curriculum, but I don't believe in being unnecessarily pushy. As a parent, I feel it's important to be able to gauge your children's interests and help them groom it.
"I am open to my child doing extracurricular and taking it up as their mainstream profession. I only believe that whatever children do, they should put in their 100 per cent into it. It could be academics or any other field related to sports or arts or anything that's their passion," she added.
Another parent, Anuradha whose daughter just finished Class 10 from a CBSE affiliated school in Dubai, said: "The problem these days is everybody feels they are a part of some race and their children have to excel. So, they burden their child with a feeling of ineptitude.
"Parents compare their children a lot with others. It's almost like a prestige issue for many. But the fact is most of us are 'average' but aren't we living decent lives? I don't see a problem if my child is not extraordinary and is instead midline."
Practise diligence instead of perfectionism
Educationists also contend 'average' has a very different connotation than for students less concerned about the selectivity of a college.
De Paul Kannamthanam, executive director, Yardstick Educational Initiatives, said: "Many of the change makers, revolutionaries or entrepreneurs were not the toppers in their schools. We still follow the age-old standardised assessment techniques from the times of the industrial revolution. Unfortunately, we don't have many tools to understand the creativity, innovation, dreams and passions of children.
"These board exams are not a measure of a brilliant young mind. These scores and numbers don't tell much. Thomas Edison, who is described as the greatest American inventor, was told that he was too stupid to learn anything by his teacher. He invented electric bulb, holds more than 1,000 patents and was the founder of 14 major companies including General Electric. It's a long, beautiful journey ahead for you, try not to lose your creativity and dreams for marks," he added.
According to experts, every child is capable differently. Deepika Thapar Singh, CEO-principal of Credence High School, said: "Board exams have never been the deciding factor in the larger picture of life. These are only assessments and that is what we must remember. What is more important is to have the will to learn, desire to excel and to be a good human being. There is a place for every individual under the sun and each of us will bloom at our given time. This is what we must remember. Follow your passion, chase your dream, remain mentally and physically healthy and practise gratitude. There are no "failures" or "winners" in life, remember we are not running a race."
Accept and validate your emotions, say psychologists
Often from the ages of 15 to 18, summers for students seem packed full of revision and the existential dread that they won't get into the university they want to.
Shagufta Patel, people development specialist & founder of Renaé, said: "If you have scored marks less than what you had expected or wanted, you might not get into a university of choice that sets score limits as its intake criteria. Worse come, you
might initially not even be able to pursue your particular field of interest for the same reason; but know that there are 100 different ways of getting to your desired destination. Be like Google maps - take a detour, choose a different way. That might take a bit longer but you will get there eventually."
It's commonly believed that to be successful, a child needs to be a star student and then go onto a snazzy university. But psychologists feel what makes someone successful is far more complicated yet also far simpler.
Dr Reena Thomas, clinical psychologist, Medeor Hospital, Dubai opined: "The world is going through a pandemic and for children their exam results add an additional blow on their life. They internalise psychological pressure that they put on themselves and are manifold as they hold unrealistic expectations for academic and professional achievement, how they should look, and what they should own.
Apparently gulping a leading irrational belief or myth that things, including themselves, should be perfect - is an illusory concept.
So, stop becoming obsessed with winning the validation of others and demonstrating your worth through flawless performance. Don't let your performance define 'you'; try to see 'yourself' as a whole including all other dimensions - other abilities, strengths, hopes and values."
nandini@khaleejtimes.com