Government to offer additional help during benchmark exams

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo has launched a consultation process to determine ways by which exams could become more accessible to students with learning disabilities.

Addressing a press conference this afternoon, Bartolo presented a range of Access Arrangements which will be provided to students for the June sessions of the benchmark examinations.

The Minister said the widening of the access arrangements will provide more inclusivity and a fairer assessment during examinations.

Bartolo said that a review of other examinations will also take place and changes implemented.

These will also include a reader for the Maltese and English Reading Comprehension components in addition to Mathematics. The provision of a scribe for the transcription of illegible words will also be available on request for the Maltese and English writing components.

Such arrangements will make the benchmark examinations more inclusive and will enable students to perform to their potential.

Students who have already applied for Access Arrangements in February 2013 do not need to reapply.

New applications were issued today and are to reach the Educational Assessment Unit by Monday 15 April.

The consultation process was launched today and a number of meetings will be held with different stakeholders and respective associations. A meeting with the general public will take place on Saturday 20 April 2013.

Parents, students, teachers and the general public may submit their suggestions to [email protected]  

The consultation process will be brought to a close on Monday 22 April 2013, when a conference will take place to discuss the issues raised during the process.