All Campaigns subcategories:
Socialism keywords:
Working-class
Highlight keywords |
Print this article
Search site for keywords: Education - Young people - Jobs - Students - Capitalist - Working-class
Exams scrapped again - young people need a future with jobs and free education
photo David Hawgood/CC (Click to enlarge)
Tom Gray, Devon Socialist Party
In another Tory U-turn, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has told the second class of Covid that A-level and GCSE exams will not be taking place at the end of the 2020-21 academic year. Rather, their results will depend on teacher moderation. A welcome change from the anti-working class algorithm that under-graded countless working-class students last year.
The exam season produces a lot of anxiety in students; understandably so. They are told their careers, which in a capitalist society translates to their lives, depend on the results. Most students have the same desire - to one day be able to qualify for a well-paid job that does not entail the worst aspects of exploitation that large sections of the working class have to go through.
However, entering the second major capitalist crisis in just twelve years, students are now realising the chances of their desires being realised are ever-slimmer. This makes the pressure of exams even more difficult and youth anxiety levels have been rapidly rising.
The pressures of exams, as well as the changes as a result of the pandemic, have led some to the conclusion that exams should be completely replaced by teacher assessments on a permanent basis.
Exams should be scrapped. But just like anyone else, teachers can hold views that reflect the prejudices that exist in wider society. These attitudes, often unconscious, can lead to working-class students, and others who are discriminated against, being treated unfairly.
Working-class students often witness their parents suffer from brutal capitalist exploitation and the side-effects of that each day, which in turn makes school life much harder.
The lack of prospects for working-class students also mean they are less likely to buy the myth "if you work hard, you will succeed". Whatever the reason, the results are the same, teachers are less likely to see their potential, and therefore more likely to downgrade them.
Neither exams nor teacher assessment can provide students with the fair evaluation they deserve in a capitalist society. The issues with both methods stem from the inequality, poverty and prejudice that capitalist society creates.
It is only when young people have a future of full employment and decent pay that we will see students faced with less pressure on a few weeks when they are just 16.
It is only when education is free and accessible to all that people will be able to fulfil their potential and fully explore their interests. This will only be possible on the basis of a socialist society.
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
LATEST POSTS
12 May Stop Israeli state brutality
 |
9 May Post-election meetings
15 May Birmingham Socialist Party: How can we fight for socialist change and a new workers' party?
17 May Oxfordshire & Aylesbury Socialist Party: The role of the state
18 May Bristol North Socialist Party: Liverpool - history of socialist struggle
CONTACT US
Phone our national office on 020 8988 8777
Email: [email protected]
Locate your nearest Socialist Party branch Text your name and postcode to 07761 818 206
Regional Socialist Party organisers:
Eastern: 079 8202 1969
East Mids: 077 3797 8057
London: 075 4018 9052
North East: 078 4114 4890
North West 079 5437 6096
South West: 077 5979 6478
Southern: 078 3368 1910
Wales: 079 3539 1947
West Mids: 024 7655 5620
Yorkshire: 078 0983 9793
ABOUT US
ARCHIVE
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999