Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1335208
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 31 JANUARY 2021 10 NEWS JAMES DEBONO A survey among 851 candi- dates for the Maltese matricu- lation exams has revealed that 33% felt social distancing rules during exam sessions went ig- nored. While nearly 90% think the authorities did take the right steps to protect students, one in three students sitting for their O and A levels in September felt that COVID precautions and regulations were not re- spected by fellow students. Only 2,892 out of the 5,158 original SEC candidates (57.5%) opted to sit for the September session. This was due to the fact that after the MATSEC Examinations Board cancelled the May session at the height of the pandemic, candidates due to sit for their SEC were given another option: that of being awarded a 'predicted level' of achievement based on school mock exam results. Those sitting for their ma- triculation certificate, as well as private SEC candidates and candidates from institutions which did not have mock ex- ams, had to sit for the Septem- ber session. The MATSEC feedback sur- vey reveals that many stu- dents expected that the stress and uncertainty caused by the pandemic should be taken in- to consideration by examiners when correcting their papers Indeed participants not re- ceiving a 'predicted level' ex- pressed their disappointment at not receiving that same grade from a similar exercise. Respondents were asked to fill a questionnaire in which they were asked to state their agree- ment or disagreement with var- ious statements related to the September session. While an absolute majori- ty of respondents agreed that sufficient health mitigation measures were published by the Ministry for Health to min- imize the spread of COVID-19 (87.7%) during exams, and that these measures were prop- erly adopted by examination centers (88.1%), a third (33%) disagreed that candidates had observed the measures; many reported that candidates were not even wearing their masks properly and were grouping together outside examination centres. Several respondents argued that candidates should not have been left waiting outside; that entering and exiting examina- tion centres should have been better controlled to avoid can- didates getting caught in bot- tleneck; and that older partici- pants should have been placed in separate rooms. Some of the responses were however rather contradicto- ry: a number of students com- plained of the heat, failing to understand that windows had to be left open for ventilation while indoor fans could not directed at candidates, due to COVID rules. Then again, oth- ers complained that fans were actually directed towards can- didates, increasing the risk of transmission. Most respondents (74.9%) agreed that the removal of oral, aural and practical components was needed to limit the risk of transmission, though 59.3% of the respondents also agreed that removing these compo- nents made the assessment unfair in those particular sub- jects. In their comments, some suggested that oral examina- tions should have taken place with mitigation measures, such as increased distance, better time-tabling of the examina- tion, and masks worn by both examiners and candidates. In retrospect, most respond- ents (63.8%) also agreed that examinations should have been held in May as was initially planned, citing in their com- ments that the rate of infec- tions was lower in May than in September and that the ex- cessive waiting time increased their anxiety. Many complained that exams should have been held online, similar to the method adopted by the University of Malta, or that written examinations are an obsolete method of assessing performance. Only 36.3% of respondents to the survey indicated being school candidates who received a 'predicted level'. The vast majority (69.6%) said the 'pre- dictive level' exercise "does not accurately reflect differences in achievement between students who will be competing for the same schools and workplaces". However, 83.8% agreed that it was "a good initiative to reduce candidates' stress and workload during this time of uncertainty" and 81.8% agreed a similar ex- ercise should have been carried out for A level candidates. Then again, 72.2% felt that this initiative allowed individ- uals to work less and still get results. From the responses to these multiple-choice questions, it remains unclear whether re- spondents were positive or not towards the 'predicted level' ex- ercise or not, as respondents at times agreed to rather opposite statements. While 58% agreed that the 'predicted level' should have been based on the mock exami- nation, 66% also agreed that the 'predicted level' should have been based on the last three years of secondary schooling. A number of respondents, especially those sitting for sci- ence subjects, claimed that questions did not cover topics learned in schools, with par- ticular emphasis on science subjects, specifically Chemistry and Biology. Others comment- ed that not all online teaching experiences were positive and this impacted their perfor- mance. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Exams: one in three say COVID rules ignored Corinthia Group objects to 'excessive' DB project JAMES DEBONO THE Corinthia hotels group, which owns the Radisson, Ma- rina and San Gorg hotels, is ob- jecting to the DB project with studies of how the downsized City Centre project will cast a long shadow on its hotels. The project was recently downsized from one 31-storey tower to two 17-storey towers, and the hotel reduced from 17 to 12 floors. But a shadowing study by Corinthia confirms the proposed towers will cast long shadows on the land- scaped gardens and pool areas of its hotels. The group is insisting a clause for the original development to have a compliance certificate issued, says the government has to confirm that the traffic network is adequate for the proposed completed develop- ment. Noting that current plans by the developer indicate a tun- nel network to channel incre- mental traffic generated by the project straight into the project car park, Corinthia reiterated its "strong objection" to the proposed tunnel. It claimed the existing road network is coping adequately except for problems at the St Andrew's traffic lights junction into Pembroke. Corinthia says this can be addressed with "less disruptive, more environmen- tally friendly and far less costly, surface alternatives." Another major concern is the proximity of excavations next to the Marina hotel, running the width of the main road leading to the Corinthia San Gorg, indicating the road will be closed "for a significantly long period", effectively closing down its hotel. "This is unacceptable and we oppose that this road is closed at any point in time. We cannot overstate enough the negative impact of such excavation on the Corinthia operation." The Corinthia is also object- ing to a discharge from a pro- posed reverse osmosis plant in front of the Radisson Bay Point Hotel and to a nightclub ex- tending down to the foreshore. As proposed, a large part of the nightclub is located below the existing public road, link- ing the main ITS site to the concession area on the fore- shore. Despite the reduction in over- all height, Corinthia said DB's project was "excessive in scale" and out of context with sur- rounding buildings and topog- raphy. In 2019 Corinthia was seeking the approval of 100,000sq.m of office and residential space on its grounds through changes in its agreement with govern- ment, which currently limits development to tourism ac- commodation. The agreement has not been signed yet.