One of the reasons is that with a 5–point system, it is not possible to evaluate the efforts of a two-man who is striving to improve his results, but with a 10–point system, there is.
This year, from September 1, schools in Tajikistan will have a 10–point rating system instead of a 5–point rating system. The Ministry of Education and Science claims that it motivates students more and will allow them to better evaluate their knowledge.
The teachers themselves are divided into two camps: some agree with this, others are against it, because such a reform will only add to their worries.
Meanwhile, the parents are perplexed. Minister Rahim Saidzoda announced the transition to the 10–point system at a press conference at the Ministry of Education and Science on July 28.
"The system is currently in the process of being implemented. The journals that will be used under the 10–point system have already been prepared," the minister explained.
Last year, the department told Asia–Plus that the system meets international standards and is part of the reform of the educational system in Tajikistan.
"The Ministry of Education and Science, its structures, as well as scientists, experts and educators consider the transition to a 10–point system more appropriate than the existing system. The latter does not fully cover the possibilities for assessing and motivating students," they said at the time.
What will the grades be like now?
According to the new system, marks are distributed as follows:
10-8 points is "excellent";
7-6 points – "good";
5-3 points – "satisfactory";
2 and 1 points – "unsatisfactory".
More specifically,
1 point means that the student has not mastered the theoretical material and has not applied it in practice.
2 points are awarded for a low level of learning and a lot of mistakes.
3 points is when a student learns the material with the help of a teacher, but cannot put it into practice.
4 points means that the student has partially mastered the material, but not at a sufficient level.
5 and 6 points – mastered the main points of the material well.
7 and 8 points correspond to the top five on a 5–point scale and indicate that the students have fully mastered the material.
And the maximum scores – 9 and 10 – indicate an unconventional creative approach in applying the acquired knowledge.
The ministry said that the introduction of a 10–point assessment system will be accompanied by explanatory work with parents and students.
In accordance with the guidelines, the score will be displayed digitally (1-10) and displayed in timesheets and journals as: 10 (excellent), 9 (excellent), 8 (almost excellent), 7 (very good), 6 (good), 5 (sufficient), 4 (very satisfactory), 3 (satisfactory), 2 (superficial), 1 (very superficial).
Note that there will be no assessment of students' knowledge in the 1st grade. In elementary school (grades 2-4), the assessment will be conducted in the subjects of study based on the above criteria.
The 10–point system provides an objective assessment of knowledge.
We have already talked with experienced teachers about this innovation. As noted by Saodat Rakhmatova, a teacher with more than 20 years of experience in secondary schools in Dushanbe and the Republic of Tajikistan, the need for a more expanded assessment system is indicated by the fact that many teachers still use such types of assessments as, for example, 3+, or 4–, 5+.
"Such "semi-official" assessments are often used because a 5–point scale does not always allow for an objective assessment of a student's knowledge. At the same time, the pros and cons cannot appear in the final report cards," she shared.
In her opinion, parents and teachers are likely to be unenthusiastic about the new system at first.
"It's simple. For almost 100 years, a 5–point system has been operating in schools in Tajikistan. It is familiar and understandable to both parents and students. A child who does well in school regularly gets maximum scores, which certainly has a positive effect on self-esteem. And at first, many people will not want to change the already established, familiar method," Rakhmatova believes.
