‘Permanent markers’ for school exams

PLEASE allow me space in your newspaper to air my concern on the marking of external examinations, especially of the Grade 10 and 12 exams.

For the past three years, I have been trying to get into this marking of the Grade 10 exams, but I’m always rejected. I have eight years’ experience in teaching Maths and Physical Science Grade 8-10.And these are the subjects I have applied for to go and mark because I meet the requirements.I am not disappointed that I have been rejected, but I am disappointed that marking has become a permanent position for some people who have been marking for almost 10 or 12 years consecutively.They apply and get accepted with no fuss.Or does the DNEA Act say that if you get one chance then you can make it your home? What I discovered about these ‘permanent markers’ is that they go there for the money and nothing but the money.It is true that there is no free lunch in this world, but let marking be marking for teachers to fulfil their responsibilities in assessing and not to enrich themselves.Some of us want to be part of that marking in order to get experience that will improve and expand our horizons relating to teaching and assessing.I can even do it without a cent if that is the case.After all some of us are marking Grade 7 external examinations at our various schools and we are not paid not a cent.Is it possible for the Directorate of External Examinations to implement something like a contract term for markers so that every teacher who wishes to get such experience will at least have one or two chances? Or at least let every subject teacher at every school mark their papers in their cluster groups.I am tired of watching the same faces going to mark each year for the rest of their career lives.Dedicated Teacher WindhoekI have eight years’ experience in teaching Maths and Physical Science Grade 8-10.And these are the subjects I have applied for to go and mark because I meet the requirements.I am not disappointed that I have been rejected, but I am disappointed that marking has become a permanent position for some people who have been marking for almost 10 or 12 years consecutively.They apply and get accepted with no fuss.Or does the DNEA Act say that if you get one chance then you can make it your home? What I discovered about these ‘permanent markers’ is that they go there for the money and nothing but the money.It is true that there is no free lunch in this world, but let marking be marking for teachers to fulfil their responsibilities in assessing and not to enrich themselves.Some of us want to be part of that marking in order to get experience that will improve and expand our horizons relating to teaching and assessing.I can even do it without a cent if that is the case.After all some of us are marking Grade 7 external examinations at our various schools and we are not paid not a cent.Is it possible for the Directorate of External Examinations to implement something like a contract term for markers so that every teacher who wishes to get such experience will at least have one or two chances? Or at least let every subject teacher at every school mark their papers in their cluster groups.I am tired of watching the same faces going to mark each year for the rest of their career lives. Dedicated Teacher Windhoek