A-levels, FLC CGIL: errors in the music school exam paper; Mim must clarify

“The piece set on 19 June for the second paper of the State Examination for music high schools – covering theory, analysis and composition – contained numerous errors in the provided score, including incorrect notes and chords, misplaced accidentals, incorrect octaves and bars that did not match the reference musical source, as well as discrepancies between the assigned score and the audio provided by the Ministry. What has happened is a serious matter and warrants a clear response from the Ministry of Education and Merit.” This is stated in a press release from the CGIL Federation of Knowledge Workers.

“These are critical issues which, in a national examination, cannot be regarded as minor. The inconsistencies identified – as the statement emphasises – have undoubtedly required pupils to carry out additional analysis of conflicting materials, thereby risking their ability to pass the examination. At a crucial stage such as the Maturità exam, the accuracy of the exam questions and the reliability of the materials provided by the authorities are essential prerequisites for fairness, transparency and respect for the work carried out by schools.”

According to the sectoral trade union, “behind the MIM’s announcements and propaganda-laden statements, there lie flawed procedures, inadequate oversight and a management approach that risks shifting responsibilities belonging to the central administration onto school communities. Indeed, whilst the preamble to the new National Guidelines for Upper Secondary Schools states: ‘Finally, the teaching of the proxemics of respect takes on great significance in schools, that is, the rules constituting the grammar of the implicit that is learnt at school (primarily through the examples set by teachers) …’ we can say that this does not serve as a model of behaviour for the Ministry.”

“The Ministry of Education must immediately clarify the origin of the errors, the checks carried out prior to the exam being set, and the measures it intends to take to ensure that no student is penalised by a faulty exam paper. The FLC CGIL – the statement concludes – will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that students’ rights are protected and that the professional dignity of school staff is recognised, as they are all too often called upon to deal with the consequences of inadequate ministerial decisions and procedures.”