English Written expression exam -picture is of Ester, one of the teachers.

In PNG the Grade 10s take a written expression paper lasting two hours in mid June, 18th this year. I'm not sure but I reckon it could be what contributes to their grades as to whether they continue to Grade 11 or leave school. So we were keen to see it in process.

It was an interesting day.

The exam was to start across the country at 8am which is a bit unrealistic for those students who have to walk long distances or wait for the PMV [public motor vehicle - mini buses] to get to school and believe you me they are like London buses and come in threes!

So we left home at 7:45am. No bus but arrived at the school by 8:30am. Students were in the Chapel having had their service. Grade 9s had the day off! More about that later.

By 9:30 the external invigilator from another school finally arrived! The kids were so nervous by this time. The exam started at 10am, two hours late.

When I read the questions, two of them, I was surprised as I thought that they were difficult for students with only three years of English. One was on politics and the other , we thought was culturally wrong as it was, write about " a dog is a man's best friend". Here they are guard dogs or strays [although unlike other countries you don't see them roaming about to be honest] or in the old days, Hunting dogs!

Anyway I spoke to a young lady in Chapel this morning g as she felt it was OK.

Our real annoyance was that we had an Inservice session with the teachers that had been postponed from the previous week. Admittedly I did get a call to say that classes might be suspended as the students would be sent home so that the classrooms could be made ready for the next day!!!

Fair enough the actual running of the exam was very British in rigour [I watched it all like a hawk!] which was pleasing. But to then have no classes for Grade 9 all day when it's a two hour exam beggars belief. Grade 10s weren't expected in on Friday as they "would have been celebrating and could be hung over"! Well I did have something to say about that to friendly teachers' ears!!

Very interesting. A little insight into what problems we have to over come!