ISLAMABAD: The Cambridge International has claimed this year (2020) it responded quickly to a unique situation arising out of COVID-19 pandemic to ensure its students stay safe, but could receive their qualifications and continue their education.
“For May/June 2020 series we had to use a very different system for awarding grades, but our aim throughout was to make sure students could get on with their education and receive grades trusted by universities and employers globally. We worked with schools and teachers to give students assessed grades”, The Cambridge International claimed in a written response to a NEWSMAN’s questionnaire.
NEWSMAN gives top priority to the students’ education and strongly believes their future needs to be protected and at the same time it gives top priority to quality education for them. Seeing painful failure of the Cambridge International’s assessment system for 2020 exams, the newspaper had approached to Uzma Yousaf, CAIE’s representative in Pakistan and sought reply to its questions. The newspaper believes the answers to its questions will help the students and parents have a clear picture of CIAE’s efforts aimed at averting 2020 like situation and get ready for their future plan.
The Cambridge International’s response to NEWSMAN suggested it was fully cognizant of the problems faced by the students who underwent a terrible situation as a result of its faulty grading procedure, however, Its timely correction helped them compete with other students at least in Pakistan for admission in professional educational institutions.
“We are running exams for the October/November 2020 series where schools believe it is safe and where they have the necessary permissions from government authorities. We believe exams remain the fairest and most reliable way to assess student achievement and our schools are telling us they want to hold exams if they can. We are continuing to monitor advice from government authorities around the world on whether schools can open, and exams can be held in October/November. We are providing guidance and support to Cambridge schools and exam centres to help them run the exams. We will not be running an alternative system to exams using predicted grades” The Cambridge noted in response to a question.
It added that our key priorities remain the same – to keep students and teachers safe, and help students get on with their educational journeys as soon as possible.
Responding to a question regarding refund of fee paid by the parents for May/June 2020 exams, which got cancelled due to COVID-19, the Cambridge International said the full amount of the exam fees was refunded to students opting to withdraw from the May/June 2020 exams series. A credit note was issued to schools for the refunded amount.
“Cambridge International schools in Pakistan are associated with the British Council. Unfortunately, the British Council had already incurred significant administrative costs preparing for the May/June 2020 exam series but they worked hard to explore how they can provide some financial relief to schools and parents. Students who took the assessed grade approach were provided with a 15% rebate against fees paid for May/June 2020 exams. Cambridge International and British Council have reduced their exam fee by 25% for candidates who gained grades in the May/June 2020 series, but would like to take exams in the October/November 2020 exam series”, the Cambridge International response concluded.