“The current generation is more accustomed to merely reading information. However, reading text with understanding is a completely different skill. We also had certain questions when we first started working with texts.”
Medianews.az reports that these words were said by Maleyka Abbaszade, Chairperson of the Board of the State Examination Center, in a joint interview with "Trend" and "Baku TV".
“If you recall, in 2019, when new types of tasks, meaning tools measuring learning outcomes and various skills, and text-based tasks were first introduced, the same problems arose. For example, in the initial stage, students were given a text and questions. The task was to read the text and add an appropriate sentence or determine the title of the text. Many teachers and possibly the students themselves looked at the questions before reading the text. Then they waited to see where to insert a particular word in the text or how to mechanically answer the question. Yes, these are easier tasks, and such questions have been included in exams since 2019,” she added.
The Chairperson of the State Examination Center emphasized that for several years now, the primary purpose of tasks measuring text comprehension skills has been to read, understand the text, and express one’s own opinion.
“It is precisely at this stage that young people face difficulties. They wait to see how they will change which word in the text and how they will answer the question. They do not read the text. Then, upon seeing the question, they realize that they need to read and understand the text. Every person has their own unique reading speed, and this skill is formed from first grade. The question arises: how many books, besides textbooks, has a student who has studied for eleven years in school read? At what level are their reading and comprehension speeds? Previously, reading books was also a form of entertainment for us, and we enjoyed it. But now, entertainment means have significantly changed and diversified,” M. Abbaszade noted.