Gove is still employing the same tactics, though clearly not the same people, as
he has done from the start of his tenure. He began by jumping on a populist
bandwagon about GCSE examinations being too easy, and proceeded,
without evaluating the empirical evidence and listening to the experts, to
change the assessment procedure to suit his ideological ends. This time it`s a
different bandwagon, and has the additional bonus of detracting media attention
from his attempts to "politicise Ofsted". Whilst his focus on pre-GCSE examinations will renew fears of a
return to selection, his "advice" on discipline coincides conveniently with a
popular television series where clearly increased viewing figures have been
deemed far more important than accuracy, when portraying education in state
secondary schools. If Gove wants to "tear down the Berlin Wall separating
private and state schools" he could start by, first addressing the funding per pupil,
£6,350 in state schools as opposed to £1,1510 in private day
schools, and then impose VAT on school fees!
When Gove bemoans the lack of discipline in
schools, a memorable interruption by the Speaker at Prime minister`s Questions
always springs to mind: "I am really very worried about the conduct of the
Education Secretary. In the average classroom, he would have been excluded by
now. He must calm himself".(Hansard,13/06/12)
No comments:
Post a Comment