The Real Mathematics Stress Test
Spare a thought for students presently sitting exams in Israel, where sirens and rockets have made the sitting of the Mathematics Matriculation Exams particularly harrowing recently! The Jerusalem Post reports that,
“High school students throughout the country sat down on Thursday for a second opportunity testing of the mathematics matriculation exam amid the added threat and stress of rocket fire.
On Wednesday the Education Ministry released a statement saying that matriculation exams would continue as scheduled according to the guidelines issued by Home Front Command. In communities located within the range of missiles the matriculation exam was held only in educational institutions with protected areas…However, on the day of the exam, missiles were launched and code red sirens sounded, interrupting testing in several municipalities and adding extra strain on students, especially in the Southern region…
In Ashdod, Meirav Kfir, vice-principal of AMIT Mekif Yud High School recalled the experience. “We set up the shelters and protected areas for examinations. There were students who became distressed, two female students tried to begin the exam and burst out crying and said they were unable to take the exam. Counseling and educational staff at the school helped them relax, and they did calm down and stayed until the end of the exam,” she said.
“Thank G-d there were no alarms during the exams and the students were able to concentrate and complete the test,” she added. The Education Ministry released a statement on Thursday saying that due to the security situation and testing conditions, students’ grades would not be harmed.”