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New Zealand To Allow 'Text-Speak' On Exams

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the beginning-of-the-end dept.

ScentCone writes "New Zealand's Qualification Authority (which sets testing standards for the public schools) is confident that those grading papers will understand the meaning of students' responses, even if they use phone/IM-style text-speak. From the article: 'credit will be given if the answer "clearly shows the required understanding," even if it contains text-speak.' Many teachers are not amused, and critics say that the move will devalue NZ's equivalent of a high school diploma." Not to mention that graders will need to be restrained so they don't gouge their own eyes out. While in the medium of text messages, some shorthand might be in order, but I didn't realize that world paper, pencil, and ink shortages were so severe so that text-speak is necessary everywhere.

4 of 421 comments (clear)

  1. Plain inaccurate by mscnln · · Score: 5, Informative

    Bali Haque, deputy chief executive of the authority, said there had been no change to guidelines and there was no specific policy about text language. However, he warned: "If people are expecting they can come up with an exam script full of text and pass, then they're dreaming. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1 &ObjectID=10410066

  2. Re:What's wrong with his post? by pixr99 · · Score: 2, Informative

    There's nothing wrong with it. That's the point. It's an eloquently constructed commentary debunking proper writing. It ought to be modded funny.

  3. It's all a misunderstanding... by pidge-nz · · Score: 5, Informative

    Short Answer: Move along, nothing to see here, it's an unsubstantiated rumour.

    Long Answer:

    From a New Zealand Herald article, somewhat more authorative on what's going on in New Zealand than CNN.

    Text language risky move in NCEA examinations

    Friday November 10, 2006
    By Claire Trevett

    Students are being warned not to use cellphone texting abbreviations in NCEA exams after reports suggested the shorthand was to be allowed.

    The New Zealand Qualifications Authority is dashing media reports that students could use text abbreviations in exams without penalty if their answers otherwise showed the required understanding.

    ...

    Read the article for more. And get it while it's hot, as NZ Herald only allows access to non-subscribers for a week.

  4. "The media has gotten this very wrong" by broohaha · · Score: 2, Informative

    To quote a friend working in IT for St. John's College in New Zealand:

    It is not true. There was an announcement here to all students and teachers
    that the media has gotten this very wrong. As an English teacher said, "We
    try to teach them good spelling and grammar, and then the media does this.
    What is the point of teaching if kids would be allowed to do that?"

    Blame seems to go to the Associated Press of America.