It's Not Fair!

  It’s been a tough year for schools all over the world and the islands are no exception.  Not having the option of online learning, most students lost nearly a semester’s worth of school this year.  They tried to make up for it by going late into the summer months, but a great deal of time was still lost.

Tom helped with exams (not the Bac)

Because of this fact, while much of the world has already gone back to school, islanders are still finishing up the previous school year and plan a late start of the new school year at the end of October.  For most island students, September has been vacation time, but since they use the French education system, there are 3 sets of students who don’t get a break.  They are the American equivalents of 6th graders, 8th graders and 12 graders.  For each of these grades an intense, multi-day exam is required in order to move to the next class.  The hardest of these is the exam for the 12 graders.  Known as the International Baccalaureate or “the Bac” for short, it is a culmination of everything students have learned and is the one requirement in order to enter university.  Without a passing grade on the Bac, further education is at an end.  (We’ve written about the Bac before, so if you want to get the full briefing check out this old blog.)

So we knew, with the difficulties of schooling this past year, that Bac results would probably be lower than usual, and not surprisingly they were.  Very low.  According to one website only 5% passed outright—extremely low even for the islands.  Unfortunately, we know personally of many students who didn’t pass.

Not surprisingly, islanders are upset about this.  And perhaps in a very human way they are looking to save face, so most of the blame has not gone to COVID, but rather to the minister of education who chose this year of all years to crack down on cheating.

Pretty place to have exams

We have been told that it is really quite unfair, over the top, and bad for morale.  You see this year the students were spaced a full meter apart, with designated seating at specifically spaced desks.  In each room there were 2 proctors instead of 1.  The proctors were instructed to roam the classroom rather than stand in one place.  And finally, no cell phones were allowed in the exam room—Outrageous!  How can anyone be expected to take exams in such an environment???  (This is the sentiment of many of our neighbors.)

How does one respond to this?  For most, I just listen politely, but with a couple of good friends I gently informed them, “You know, that’s how it works in the States.”  They were quiet for a moment and then said, “Well, maybe it is better that way, but it would have been nice if they had given us more warning.”  That made me smile.  How much warning would you need to give them?  What would you say, “Be warned, in this coming year you will actually have to study for your exams.  In this coming year you will have to know the answers without looking at your phones and without copying your neighbor’s exam.”  I imagine a politician could find a more diplomatic way of putting it.  Moreover, my guess is that he did warn people but nobody listened.  But for now he makes a very convenient fall guy.

Future student- already loves books!

Oh well, there is always hope for next year.  Better start studying…

PRAYERS ANSWERED
Our medical teammates have found a house on the south side of the island! Also the landlord seems great and has readily agreed to the improvements they have requested. This means things are on track for them to start their new lives on the south side of the island in November. Our colleagues on the big island had a scare when their 13 yr old son started suffering from headaches and vomiting. He ultimately ended up in Kenya having brain surgery to remove a cyst that had ruptured. We were all praying a lot and were so thankful that he got to Kenya with his dad, made it through surgery, and that his mom and siblings have been able to join them. Continue to pray for his recovery and for the whole family as they will need to wait a month before returning to the islands. An older island sister on the big island has returned after spending years abroad and she seems to have a heart to help the body there— we hope she can be a great encouragement to them. Our colleague on the small island is en route to be with her ailing mother, we are thankful that the flights opened up for her to leave without much delay. We had a good talk with our new teammate coming next month— there had been some misunderstandings across different offices but we seem have cleared everything up and gotten things moving again towards her coming to the islands.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Elewa and her husband leave on Wednesday for his medical treatment, but in the meantime their daughter is sick. Pray that she would feel better so that they can have peace about leaving. Pray for their travels and navigating the medical system in a new country. Please pray for our group’s country leader as she works with others to think through the future years for our group on the islands and as she attends leadership meetings off island— pray for a clear way forward and for unity. Three of our teammates are traveling this week- pray for smooth travels and restful trips. There should be a women’s gathering this week on Clove Island— pray that it would happen. The translation project is doing consultant checking this week— pray for good internet connections and good discussions leading to good translations.