In a Facebook post last Thursday night, Verdon College pupils and parents were advised the exams, which were scheduled at the start of the year, would still continue, whether the school was at Alert Level 2 or not.
Most said there were mixed messages about exams, they were concerned about the fairness and equity of having exams at home, as well as the stress it was causing families and the lack of communication from the school.
Many reported their children had been stressed, anxious and tense as a result of the announcement.
‘‘I’m worried for my child’s mental wellbeing. It’s the wellbeing for the children.’’
Another parent called it a complete shambles, while another said their child was emotionally drained from the pressure.
Verdon College principal Jarlath Kelly said an email had gone out to all families on Friday. Parents spoken to said the email was about accessing devices, not the exams.
Parents were not really aware of what was happening, and the only communication had been through Facebook or from teachers directly to pupils, they said.
At one stage a teacher had told pupils their class would not be sitting the exam, then later confirmed they would be and issued an apology, one parent said.
There was also concern and confusion regarding how the exams were to be sat. The first post stated there was an expectation it would be in normal exam conditions at home, so ‘‘no authenticity issues arose’’.
However, on Monday night Mr Kelly said it was not a requirement for parents to supervise the exams and after speaking to the Otago Daily Times put up another Facebook post, playing down the importance of the exams.
‘‘Remember these are practise assessments, to test where students are at the moment for the external standards accessed and to provide some revision at this point of the year. Students should just do their best and not worry unnecessarily about the results they might get, as we understand these are unusual circumstances and we will have considerations around that in place.’’
Mr Kelly told the Otago Daily Times all school programmes had been moved to the online space and the mock exams were no different.
‘‘Normal exams are timetabled for this week but they’ve been moved back a day. What we’ve asked students to do is just a mock exam, a practice paper, just to do that.’’
Holding the exams now, when they were scheduled, was averting stress for children down the line, as the results would show what revision was required for future NCEA examinations, he said.
If parents had any concerns they should have emailed the school, he said.
Mr Kelly had personally received no correspondence about the mock exams and there had only been one email sent to a dean, which had been replied to.
‘‘I’m not sure what the issue is about.’’
Parents interviewed said they were scared to contact the school.
‘‘People stay quiet because of the intimidation that he [Mr Kelly] creates amongst the staff, amongst the families and the children.’’
One parent said they had seen a Facebook post of a parent who did not agree with the exams taking place, but it was subsequently taken down.
When asked about it, Mr Kelly said he did not know about the post that was being referred to.
‘‘I’m at a loss really.’’
