Bliar: Education, Education, Education (if only)

[turbobloke]

Daily Telegraph said:

In the second round of tests conducted by the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) involving more than 250,000 15-year-olds in 41 countries, the UK dropped in three years from fourth in science to 11th, from seventh in reading to 11th and from eighth in maths to 18th.

So the ever increasing tally of top notch exam results represent grade inflation for sure, and Mr Chips can't take the plaudits. No disprespect intended to hard-working students and teachers. Students are as intelligent (or not) as they've always been and teachers just as dedicated - our 'all must have prizes' edukashun sistam is letting everybody down

[chaparral]

Well, that's what happens when you pass everyone...

The only way you'll ever do well in a survey like this is to fail a large minority clear out of the system before these tests are even given. The US does particularly badly on these but if you look at just the college-track or honors-track students they climb quite a bit.

[swilly]

It is a great shame students leave the education system with a certificate but no education.

[turbobloke]

Would dumbing down the majority of the electorate be a good strategy for Bliar? A dependency culture and a dole-benefit society would generate more and more noo labia voters, as long as there are a few entrepreneurs to start businesses and replace those driven to the wall by noo labia red tape and lack of cash to invest through stealth taxes etc. The electorate will be easier to hoodwink and less able to think and act for themsleves. Sounds like the USSR - Utopian Socialist State Recidivism

[rico]

I've probably learnt more from PH, and from people i've met through PH, about the real world than i did at school...

School was a lot of fun though

[v8thunder]

TBH the problem is the testing regime, which isn't for the benefit of the pupils or the teachers or even the school, but the government's statistics-mongers.

Minimise the National Curriculum, scrap the SATS, broaden the subject areas and let them LEARN! now THAT'S education!