A world where knowledge is more important than high grades
In a country with a large number of teachers, it’s not that easy to be the one to make the difference for the students. Our country has a large percentage of graduated teachers, most of which are unemployed or work in other industries, usually educationally unrelated. Myself being one of them. As a student, I always worked hard and my highest priority was to get the highest grades in order to enroll into university. The day I managed to see my name on the English Department’s list was the day I realised that grades had nothing to do with getting into the university program. Students who had far lower grades than mine also managed to enroll and we attended the same lectures. From that day on, I decided that I’ll not strive toward the highest grades. My only target was to learn.
Students nowadays don’t really know the value of knowledge. They aim for the grades and are taught that way since very young. The disturbing thing is that they don’t realise that they’re actually supposed to learn and that a certain grade represents the level of knowledge and skills they possess. they want to get the high grades at any cost. On the other hand, some teachers also don’t realise that but giving students high grades regardless of how much they’ve learned, they’re not doing them any favor. What they’re doing is putting all of the students in the same basket and giving them an example that no matter how hard you try in life, your hard work will not be acknowledged.
I’d like to change that. I’d like to teach students that it’s important to learn more, to know more, to explore the world, to ask questions, to get out of the school book covers. I’d like to see students who don’t really care what grade they get at Geography, History, or Science, because they’re simply genius at Maths and will enroll in any Math-related program they want to attend. I’d like to see students who don’t bargain with teachers for getting the higher grade. I’d like to look at grading as a tiny part of the teacher’s role at school, a quiet afternoon spent twice a year. That way, students will focus on what’s really important, and that’s the actual process of learning.
We’re not there yet. It’s a road not yet taken. I dream that’ll change.
North Macedonia 