A headmaster said that students are so used to typing, they have trouble expressing their ideas when faced with exams.
Keith Metcalfe from Malvern College is arguing that GCSEs should be able to write their exam scripts. This calls a reliance upon pen and ink ‘antiquated.
According to The Daily Telegraph Mr Metcalfe thinks that long periods of handwriting can be tiring for students. Typing boosts accessibility and fairness for everyone.
The Telegraph reported that he said, “Those who spend too much time touch-typing may lose speed and clarity in handwriting and so are not able express their ideas as proficiently in exams when handwritten responses are required.”
“I don’t think this is fair. It doesn’t achieve what a modern education should. Handwriting, aside from schools, has virtually disappeared. This makes it appear very outdated to have a pen and paper in an exam room.
Keith Metcalfe from Malvern College, (pictured), advocates for GCSEs or A Level candidates to have an option of writing their exam scripts. This is calling the reliance upon pen and ink ‘antiquated.
Malvern College was started in Worcestershire in 1865. The college educated Aleister Crowley, CS Lewis, and many others. Boarders are charged over £13,000 per term.
He said that ‘I’m sure schools will keep an important focus handwriting. But simply doing this to prepare students for exams seems a bit backward.
“We must equip our children with the necessary skills to enter the global world after school.
It doesn’t necessarily mean that handwriting isn’t important, or that it’s a lost art. But it’s already less relevant for future career paths.
Already, students with recognized problems can use their laptops for typing up answers to exams.
Students who have been diagnosed with a problem are permitted to use laptops in order to write their answers for exams. (stock photo)