Problems relating to school certificate examinations in history-a teacher's view

Abstract

I would like to state more absolutely that the contents of this paper are entirely subjective and considered from the point of view of the teacher rather than the pupil. Many of the conclusions arrived at are based on my own teaching experience which covers a period of three and a half years and confined to one school. I have, however, had occasions to discuss general problems with teachers from other schools and I have also paid close attention to the achievements of pupils in other schools in examinations in History. The essential point here, it appears to me, is centred on the term 'examinations'. That 'examinations' here is a significant point pre-supposes a desire on the part of the teacher to endeavour to help his pupils pass examinations in History well. May I assume that problems exist because there is the aim to achieve a high percentage of creditable passes but, often, the results prove unsatisfactory to the teacher. Were the desire to help pupils pass examinations absent or, were good results easily attainable, I could not visualize problems arising from examinations.