Failure in academic performance is the most discouraging fact administrators and teachers must face and deal with.In fact this is one of the major causes of students/pupil dropping out of school.Whenever a student fails,and most especially when it happens repeatedly, the next likely the student would experience is being disinterested, and eventually to drop out of school.
Dropping out is really a problem if this is the result of a consistent failure.However I would to treat dropout here merely as the result and not the problem.
As I have mentioned,failure is one of the major causes of dropout, beside other factors such as the family’s economic condition, broken homes, et. Failure in academics is the main problem we want to address to. Considering the factthat teachers has a direct impact on the performance of every student he/she handles. In this instance Re-teaching and Re-exams are very useful.It is therefore the subject teachers who has a lot more to do with the number of failures, be it increasing or decreasing the school chart.
As a classroom teacher for more than fifteen years now, I find remedial lessons and remedial exams reliable in decreasing if not eliminating failures in my classes. I would like to note for my readers therootword “REMEDY” where remedial came from,which practically means to “cure or eliminate a problem”.Remedial exams alone however can not do the job.
There must be re-teaching first before employing remedial exams.Remedials therefore must focus on eliminating difficulties on the part of the failing students.It is a must for teachers concerned to have the heart in addressing the problem of failures in their classes.Your enthusiasm in employing this strategy is also solicited for the sake of your student you are paid for.
The following are some important considerations in preparing and conducting remedials in your classes:
1.Determine the size @ number of your failing students.This will give you the idea of what kind of re-teaching you need to employ; do you need to prepare reading materials or reviewers, or to hold extra sessions for the lesson tobe reteach?
2.Identify the groups weaknesses @ capabilities in gaining or grasping knowledge, i.e. are they poor in written,verbal or oral exam, comprehension,memorization, etc.
3.Provide your remedial class a direct yet comprehensive reviewer/material of the subject matters included in your exams.
4.Conduct your remedial sessions as soon as possible,while the motivation to pass is still present among your student.
5.Design your remedial exam based on your students level and yet with variety.
6 .Gather and personally talk to your students about your plan to help them pass provided you need their personal cooperation.
7.Always remember however that this is an additional effort on your part without extra pay.This will give students the idea that you are serious about helping them.
I personally would like to discourage teachers in giving the Pasang-Awa grade to students because ,nakakainisnasila, ayokonasilangmakitasaklaseko next year, or any other unsound reason.
We want students to realize that passing their subjects is the result of their effort and an honest help from their teachers doing their noble job.
By: MARINA S. LANGREO | Teacher- I | JEAG – MHS | Orion, Bataan
