The upcoming 30th Conference for Association for Educational Assessment in Africa (AEAA) is likely to help Botswana examine where the weakness really is within the education system following the declining performance rates in schools.
Botswana is hosting the 30th AEAA annual conference under the auspices of the Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) from 6th to 10th August 2012. AEAA holds annual research conferences that serve as a platform for the exchange of innovative ideas on examinations and assessment issues.
“We are all concerned about this continued decline and we hope this conference will help determine and review the quality of learning going on in our classrooms,” said Dr Serara Moahi, BEC executive secretary.
Moahi said there have been a lot of questions and speculations surrounding the pass rate decline and need to be addressed urgently.
“Batswana have raised alarm over this drop in pass rate and accuse the BEC but results reflect the quality of teaching in schools. The conference will help us review what the world expects to map the way forward in bettering the declining pass rate,” she said.
Moahi said this is a grant opportunity for Botswana to benchmark on its challenges, with expects from across Africa, USA and UK.
She emphasized that there is no deception going on or tampering with results happening at BEC saying, examinations are critical and sensitive hence they go through a robust system to ensure accuracy.
In addition Moahi urged Batswana to participate in this upcoming conference to help realize the Botswana dream of becoming an education hub.
“This is a grand opportunity for Botswana for this does not come very often,” said AEAA president, Paul Wasanga. He said through interaction with world education gurus in August, Botswana could realize a turnaround in the collapsing education system.
Targeted participants of the conference are educational assessment practitioners, academics and scholars from Africa and the world at large.
“Our annual research conferences serve as a platform for exchange of innovative ideas on examinations and assessment issues,” said Wasanga. The theme has been articulated in recognition of the critical role transformative education plays in national development.
