- Target:
- Hong Kong HKDSE 2020 students
- Region:
- Hong Kong
As Hong Kong coronavirus cases surge, why not side with caution and cancel the HKDSE exams?
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Letters | As Hong Kong coronavirus cases surge, why not side with caution and cancel the HKDSE exams?
Letters
Letters
Published: 7:25am, 31 Mar, 2020
1
A school representative (left) picks up a box of protective masks meant for DSE candidates, at the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority office in San Po Kong on March 5. Photo: May TseA school representative (left) picks up a box of protective masks meant for DSE candidates, at the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority office in San Po Kong on March 5. Photo: May Tse
A school representative (left) picks up a box of protective masks meant for DSE candidates, at the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority office in San Po Kong on March 5. Photo: May Tse
When health and safety issues are a concern, there is no strong reason for the Education Bureau not to cancel the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education exams this year.
While it may be argued that the HKDSE is crucial for deciding the ranking of the students in the university admission process, the combination of rising coronavirus cases and the inevitable mass gathering of people at exam venues makes the whole situation worrying.
As the HKDSE means so much to candidates, those complaining of mild flu-like symptoms might still risk it and go to the exam venue anyway. Even though the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority has announced that candidates running a temperature of 38 degrees or above will not be admitted, the possibility remains that these candidates will actually report for the exams, then stay at the venues to fill in records. If these individuals are later confirmed as coronavirus cases, does it mean that the venue in question will be closed for the rest of the exam season? Is there a contingency plan?
(Extracted from SCMP)
If any candidate or invigilator contracts the coronavirus during the HKDSE season, the decision about whether to continue with the rest of the exams might invite more questions about fairness and put even more pressure on this cohort of students. And if a candidate, after sitting the exams, is found to be infected and linked to a new cluster, who would be to blame?
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