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Features • Gender • Kid's Corner

Importance of testing to teachers, pupils

 May 22, 2015  4 Min Read

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EDUCATION TALK with TIMOTHY KAMBILIMA

IT IS unfortunate that a good number of pupils at secondary school level look at testing as an
enemy.

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Most teachers will agree with me that each time an announcement is made that there is a test
most pupils will receive the news with disapproval.
Our pupils regard any test administered to them as punishment, and they even go to an extent
 of wrongly complaining to friends that “our teacher is giving us tests every month.â€
Share This! It is also common to see pupils feigning all sorts of illness, or simply giving lame excuses just to
avoid being tested by the teacher.
Well, there are various factors that make testing important in a school situation. Parents with
school-going children, including pupils reading this article, should spread the ‘good’ news
to others out there on why teachers decide to give either weekly, fortnightly, monthly or termly
tests to pupils in our schools.
In the rst place, teaching is a process which facilitates learning.
On the other hand, learning is a mental process, which results in the acquisition of knowledge.
Here, the teacher is said to be actively teaching if he/she explains, demonstrates, tests and
interacts with the pupils.
In secondary schools, the common test is called achievement or performance test. This test
determines how much the pupils have covered or learned.
It is also vital to note that teachers use tests to evaluate their performance and see where they
can adjust for the sake of the same learner who wants to run away from being examined by the
teacher.
Testing is important in a school because it helps teachers and the pupils to determine how
much they have taught and learnt, respectively.
It is because of the teacher trying to nd the areas of di culty in order to take corrective Facebook Feed
measures that tests are administered in school.
A teacher who fails to administer any test to the pupil is doing a disservice to the child. Similarly,
a pupil who keeps away from tests is also doing himself or herself a disservice.
Apart from what has been said earlier, testing is important because it helps motivate the boys
and girls to learn more.
Under normal circumstances, when the date of either a weekly or monthly test is announced by
the subject teacher, serious pupils will prepare adequately in order for them to pass with ying
colours.
It also encourages those who perform below par to study hard for them to pass the next test.
Testing also encourages positive competition in class or school as pupils will strive to outdo one
another and in the end, the ghting spirit will even repeat itself in the national examinations at
the end of the year.
Further, testing gives teachers the opportunity to report to parents their children’s progress.
We have serious parents who don’t wait for open days to check on their children’s Tweets by @zadama24
performance, hence through class tests, the subject teachers will be in a better position to
Zambia Daily Mail Retweeted
report correctly because teachers cannot rely on class exercises. Matimba Nkonje
In addition, administering of tests helps the teacher predict the performance of pupils in future. @Ama1010Zambia

By giving tests, the teacher will be able to know if a pupil will pass the nal examinations or not. 9th November 2004, almost 17 years ago. Receiving
the 'Best Electronic Media coverage' award of the
At school level, the school management, in collaboration with subject teachers, will be able to Coca Cola cup tournament from the then
compare the performance of pupils in di erent classes. Information and Broadcasting Services Deputy
Minister now Repubican Vice President Mrs. Mutale
This will enhance the quality of teaching and learning as classes will be competing to outdo one
Nalumango. Congrats your Honour Mrs. Nalumango
another academically.
Teachers are stimulated through giving tests as they enable them to clarify and re ne the
course objectives within the academic year.
Once this is done, teachers will be able to plan properly to meet the needs of various types of
pupils.
Testing in schools helps the school authorities to cover up with evaluation and assessment
tools, which will add value to the teaching and learning process.
Our pupils must be reminded that tests don’t exist to torture them or give them extra work
to do, but to help them improve.
Teachers want to know if the pupils are learning the skills and knowledge they should be Aug 24, 2021
learning and which ones are having trouble.
Every parent wants their children to leave school with the ability to earn a living, be good Zambia Daily Mail Retweeted

citizens and one day, run the world. Dr Maureen Mwanawasa

@mwanawasaM
Therefore, schools have to prove they are doing a good job of educating their pupils, and one
Beautiful congratulations once again to the new First
way of doing this is to have them take tests periodically. Lady. May this journey you have embarked on be a

It is, therefore, important for teachers and parents to inculcate the love and importance of tests success. Twalumba noba tumbu
https://twitter.com/FirstLadyZam/status/1430178339
in their pupils if examination results are to improve at all levels of the education system in 071873029
Zambia.
Contact: timothykambilima@yahoo.com cell: 0972637485/0968537064 Aug 24, 2021

Tags EDUCATION TALK pupils teachers

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