As thousands of high school students appeared for their exams on Saturday, jubilation and contentment was written all over their faces. Students appeared more relaxed and seemed comfortable with the question papers prepared by their respective schools rather than by the Department of Education. The department's decision to do away with the practice of setting the question papers this year evoked mixed reaction from the teachers community. Some principals said the new system would diminish the value of these exams. By passing the buck on to the schools, Education Department has taken the shine out of these crucial exams, several teachers told Saudi Gazette. Ala'a Mohammed, a student in 34th Secondary School, was elated to find his question paper easy enough and he hopes to get good marks. “I have seen the question papers earlier prepared by the ministry. They were tough and long ones. But now the style and the format are altogether different,” added Ala'a. “We now have multiple choices, and fill in the blank too,” he said. Reem Al-Jassem, a science student in the 34th High School, was too happy with her mathematics exam. She said she felt comfortable with the new system. “It is as if we are not taking the final exams,” she said. On the first day of the exams, mood at several high schools was euphoric. “We had noticed a big difference this time. Students finished the exams early. Even before the exams they were too comfortable and relaxed specially after getting ensured that the question papers are going to be from their teachers,” said Waleed Ibrahim, principal in a private school. “I think such decision will not make any remarkable difference. The only thing is now the success percentage rate will go up every year,” added Ibrahim. “The frequent periodical exams had affected the students and they have become more comfortable,” said Ahmad Mesfer, Al-Taisir High School principal. Such periodical exams had diminished the value of the final exams, he said. __
