We live in some strange times – the decade opened with a global pandemic that brought the world to a standstill. Workplaces closed with only the essential services running, we all have certainly felt, and continue to feel, the effects of this pandemic – psychologically, emotionally, economically (the list goes on!) – not the least of whom are the young people. Schools closed and forced to migrate to online learning, students unable to meet their teachers face to face, a vital element of learning for many is the human connection shared with their teachers.
Though Singapore has started to open up, education, tuition & music enrichment classes seem to be going through a roller coaster cycle as cases rise and fall, and the general population strains & stresses over carefully following safety measures that have to change and adapt with new developments.
In this ever-changing environment, having a chance to take the exams “normally” is like a breath of fresh air – literally. You get to leave the house (all precautions taken, of course!), interact with other people at the exam centre**, and sit down and meet an Examiner from overseas, just as if they had flown in to give you your exam!
Much like being stuck in the same house with the same people having to work and learn from home, getting to see a new face certainly does wonders for lifting the spirit and boosting morale. Coming to the Live Video Exams seems to have the same effect. Candidates come in and get to talk to their examiners, albeit through a screen, but in real time nonetheless! What an amazing innovation!
“Yes, I do think the Live Video Exams are still the better option; closer to an actual exam. I find it is a more fair assessment,” says Belle, who just recently took her RSL Classical Piano exam through Live Video. “Multiple video recordings don’t really reflect the students ability in an exam situation.”
“It’s definitely better than video recording, a better experience for students. The option for Live Video Exams means music education doesn’t stop at COVID. You still get that feeling of a performance, even if it’s just for one person”, shares Joel, a drum educator.
RSL certainly deserves credit for developing a workable option as close as possible to the traditional Face to Face exams amid the chaos this pandemic has brought about. We are certainly grateful to have this little sense of normalcy restored for our candidates in Singapore.
**RS Event Centre takes utmost care in maintaining & sanitizing the exam venue and contact points, as well as implementing all the recommended safety measures from the Singapore and UK authorities. For the latest updates on COVID-19 measures, visit www.moh.gov.sg and www.gov.uk