Once again the end of the school term is upon us. Students, who finished their exams a few days back, will soon be returning home with the Report Card. To some students, of course, carrying their report card home is not a big deal — it is just what you do at the end of the school term. To others though, it is a dreaded document; the evidence of their failure and an opportunity for scolding by their parents.

But Report Cards need not be an opportunity for stress. Rather, they can be an instrument of feedback to both parents and students, not only on the scores the child has attained in school, but also on the attitudes and behaviours that have influenced the results in question.

In our lead story this week, we discuss the issue of Report Cards, and how teachers, students and parents can make the most of them.

Quoting from parents, teachers, students and other educational experts, we examine the attitudes that students have towards Report Cards, the fears that accompany them, what teachers aim to achieve through the comments they normally write on the report cards, and what parents look out for when they pick up this document.

Hopefully, by examining ourselves in this area, we can move the report card from being a mere indicator of failure or success, to a tool that helps improve the performance of each particular student, and the standard of our education system in general.

education@newtimes.co.rw