Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Dr Shukuru Kawambwa. PHOTO|FILE
What you need to know:
Education ministry PS wrote to private school owners reminding them about government order against removal of student who do not attain the ‘cut-off point’
The term cut-off score refers to the lowest possible score on an exam, standardized test, high-stakes test, or other form of assessment that a student must earn to either “pass” or be considered “proficient.” In some cases, tests may have multiple cut-off scores representing tiered levels of proficiency, such as basic, proficient, or advanced.
Dodoma. The government has ordered private schools in the country to stop discontinuing students who do not attain the pass mark set by their institutions.
Responding to a question in Parliament yesterday, the minister for Education and Vocational Training, Dr Shukuru Kawambwa, said the government was aware that many private schools have set their cut-off point far above the government minimum. “We’re also aware that in many of these schools students who do not attain the cut-off point are forced to repeat classes or are thrown out altogether,” said Dr Kawambwa when answering MP Conchesta Rwamlaza’s question.
Dr Kawambwa said doing so was against the government policy and ordered the schools to stop the practice otherwise they risk stiff penalties including deregistration.
He noted that in January 2014, his permanent secretary wrote to Tanzania Association of Managers and Owners of Non-Government Schools and Colleges (Tamongsco), reminding the private school owners of directives by the government on students who had failed to attain the cut-off point. “However, despite all our efforts, there are many schools which still send away students who do not reach the pass mark set by the respective schools and others are forced to repeat their classes. This is against the government directive,” he insisted.
In her question, Ms Rwamlaza asked the government if it was aware of private schools which have been setting pass rates which are far above those set by the government.
She also wanted to know what the government was doing in order to assist the students and their parents, who have been paying high fees in these private schools.
Dr Kawambwa said the government was aware and that was why it has issued a number of circulars directing the private schools owners to stop from penalising students who do not reach the cut-off point set by the schools.
