THE MONTHLY exams should be scrapped. The examinations, which only a few colleges have, are a misnomer, especially in the Faculty of Pharmacy.
Other schools have three grading periods, called prelims, mid-term, and finals–more appropriate than the faculty’s monthly, prelims, and finals.
The monthly tests are a misplaced reality. Dividing the semester into three grading periods is quite impractical. Professors have to discuss subject matters in passing to be able to have a longer coverage for the major exams lest the latter appear like just another quiz. In short, discussions are shallow because they are but merely to finish the required chapters or subject matters.
Some say the monthly exams help students cope with difficult subject matters. I would like to think that this is a lame excuse. Those who think this way are those who have gotten used to this system, who are closed to adopting a two-grading period. Students in other colleges survive the two-grading period.
The second-semester calendar further suggests that the monthly examinations should be removed. When classes begin on the first week of November, the monthly exams are a month away. But during that period, a week is lost because of college week. Three weeks are all that are left to cover the subjects. That is on the premise that the professor starts his lecture on the first meeting. But in reality, only a few do that.
Worse, if the professor is not yet available, as experienced by our class, the professor comes to class on the second or third week because he or she had not been given the load long beforehand.
When this happens, the major exams are usually omitted. Furthermore, students from the faculty could not afford to join the University in the celebration of the annual Paskuhan simply because it coincides with the schedule with the major exams.
Woe to the Faculty, which is often criticized for the students’ poor attendance in the Paskuhan. Are we to sacrifice this event and give the major exams higher priority? Of course, we should. But we don’t have to if in the first place we don’t have these exams.
The Faculty had tried to revert to the two-period grading system before, and I think there was no significant difference. The students might have adjusted, but it could have worked more effectively if it was continued.
If students from other colleges can survive, why can’t we in the Faculty? Those who still want to live in this grading system, ask yourselves why.
