GħSL, ELSA Malta, Junior Chamber of Advocates as well as the students within the Faculty of Laws, called for immediate clarity on the June assessments. Many also asked for empathy during this difficult time in which we are all encountering unprecedented change to our lifestyles.
The law students organisations have all released statements regarding the June Examination Sessions. The Third Eye is informed that students are facing a possibility of a number of take-home exams with little to no assignments.
In their press release, GħSL mentions how the faculty seems to have decided that take-home exams will be the method of assessment in the June exams. A decision that has been opposed by all 3 student organisations representing law students.
The organisation goes on to say how students received no justification with regard to this decision when all organisations have lobbied assignments as their method of assessment after having consulted with the students themselves.
Furthermore in their statement, they recounted how “…a group of student representatives were meant to vote on the matter together with the Dean and the Heads of Departments. However, they were unexpectedly stripped from their voting rights…”
They emphasise how they have not received adequate online lectures and despite this, they are still being forced to sit for exams as if nothing has happened except a change of venue.
The student society calls on the Dean saying that he’s treating this situation with two weights and two measures when it was the Dean himself that told the students he is raising the bar for students because the law course is not the default course to apply to.
Now the students seek to hold him accountable to practice what he himself preaches as the faculty continues to fall short from providing students with necessary resources.
On the other hand, ELSA highlighted a number of issues which need clarification in order to ensure a fair examination process.
Amongst the list of issues, the structure of examination was mentioned where the organisation states that the faculty must tell the students what is expected of them during the time allotted.
GħSL mentions how students are already suffering as they are not able to access the University library to conduct research. This whilst ELSA emphasises they now have to deal with exams in an environment which some might consider a haven, but some might consider it as the devil’s den.
It is important to note that various students have pointed out how difficult it is for them to find a few moments of peace within their homes to sit for an exam. It also does take into consideration those who might live in an abusive environment.
ELSA continues on demanding that a list of topics which are examinable must be provided beforehand. This ties with the lack of online lectures some students are experiencing and thus it would be unfair to test on material which was in no way covered during lectures. On this very same point, the organisation asks whether more lectures and tutorials will be added to the schedule to make sure that the syllabus is covered.
It is essential to note that the student organisations as well as the students are not completely against the notion of take-home exams but they are quite frustrated with the lack of balance, clarity and communication surrounding the examinations which might take place in less than 6 weeks.
The Junior Chamber of Advocates believe that although it is ultimately up to the faculty to decide, they must make a decision which will not have a huge impact on the students and their studies. They urged the faculty to give clear guidance on this situation at hand.
ELSA Malta state that till now, students have been presented with the bare minimum and that merely knowing the method of assessment is not enough and thus this information must be immediately communicated with the students who are currently very stressed with the situation.
Also, student organisation GħSL stated that they have presented a detailed report to the faculty on how different methods of assessment can be adopted in order to create a balance.
A balance that actually assesses the students’ abilities but also a balance that provides a level playing field for all.