We all have to agree with Joe Martinelli that the world has changed (TMID, 16 September). But has it changed for the better or for the worse? But let's come to the facts.

The reason for the entrance exams was two-fold. Agreed. Students are asked to sit for any exam to judge their academic capabilities and to limit the number of students advancing to secondary level. Yes, but not, definitely not because enough space was not available but because not all students are capable of moving on to secondary level education.

I have spent all my life preparing students for these examinations and I knew perfectly well what I am saying. Mr Martinelli tells us that a student fails if he obtains 49 marks but moves on if he obtains one single mark more – 50. Certainly a line has to be drawn somewhere, not only for examinations. If your 18th birthday falls on election day you are eligible to vote. If you were born one single minute later and you celebrate your 18th birthday a day later you simply cannot vote. So what?

But Mr Martinelli has contradicted himself when he mentioned the term result. Why? Because these term results, like all other results, have to be based on some form of testing and a passing grade, mentioned by Mr Martinelli himself, has to be given. And once again a line has to be drawn and a mark less or a mark more may make a lot of difference.

According to Mr Martinelli, exams written in black on white are equally prone to abuses! Imagine, if we abolish these exams, written in ink, pencils are not allowed, and subject to all forms of checking and double checking and allow the fate of our students to depend on the subjective assessment of the teacher! God forbid!

Giov. DeMartino

Mosta