Editor,

Please allow me space to write in absolute agreement with the views of Mr. Pa Ndow, head teacher, Serekunda primary school as expressed during the education forum, Tuesday 13th May 2008. Indeed Mr. Ndow is right in stating that an examination based entrely on multiple choice objective questions inhibit candidates ability to express themselves in written English.  

There is ample evidence that multiple choice objective questions part from encouraging guessing have impacted negatively on our students to the extent that generally students lack the ability and skill to express themselves in written English.  Infact society at large show evidence of this inability.

In the book “Essay and letter writing for Gambian schools” by Dr. Pap Sey first printed in 1986, the author in his preface noted that while generally, performance in English has been a major concern in Gambian schools, there is worry that student ability in easy and letter writing is particularly poor.  This he said has been evidenced by results obtained by candidates in national examinations.

Today, twenty two years later, the scenario described by Dr. Sey has instead of improved inorsened and deteriorated to the extent that even grade twelve students are unable to write and express competently in English.

Mulitiple choice objective questions may have their merics but they definitely do not provide answers that reflect the candidate’s knowledge and or understanding of the material learnt.

by Salieu E.H. John