The Cabinet has approved the re-introduction of a scaling system for the national examination. Education Minister Aseri Radrodro informed Parliament on Thursday that public consultation will be conducted to gather opinions on this process.
Radrodro stated that the scaling system is set to be implemented, pending Cabinet approval, in the 2025 academic year. This follows the completion of consultations, adjustments, and preparations within schools to facilitate the transition.
He emphasized that scaling provides an equitable representation of student performances. “Many of us have experienced this scaling system before it was abandoned in 2015,” he remarked. He added that it helps standardize examination scores to reflect the varying levels of challenge across different subjects and exams, thereby addressing disparities.
Radrodro noted a trend where students from rural and maritime areas are increasingly moving to urban schools in search of better opportunities, which underscores the need for the scaling system’s return.
Moreover, Radrodro pointed out that many countries implement a version of scaling in their national examination processes to maintain fairness and consistency. He concluded that Fiji’s reintroduction of the scaling system aligns with international student assessment practices, ensuring the credibility and comparability of student results on a global scale.