National curriculum tests “serve no pedagogical purpose”

National curriculum tests (Landsroyndir) are required by law in all fólkaskúlin schools.

But they do not serve their intended purpose, according to Jacob Eli Olsen, the chairman of the Teachers’ Association.

“These exams are more of a distraction than a useful pedagogical tool,” he says.

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“They place too much emphasis on the actual examination of pupils’ skills. The results do not provide teachers with much relevant information about how to structure their teaching.”

Olsen believes the assignments in the national curriculum tests are too simple compared to the ones in the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) tests.

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“Ideally, the national curriculum tests would improve the pupils’ abilities to do well in the PISA tests,” he says.

“But I don’t think they do. Rather, I believe they act as a distraction with regards to the much more challenging PISA tests.”

He calls on the new government to take a closer look at the national curriculum tests.

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“First of all, I would ask the new government to define the actual purpose of these tests,” he says.

“In their current format, these tests are little more than competitions in which pupils are measured in relation to other pupils. I believe the primary purpose should be to give each pupil the right tools to improve his or her academic skills on an individual level rather than on a relative level.”

Read the Faroese version of this article here.

More Faroese News in English.