Posted on: 25-04-05 13:55:32
I know this is not relevant to Canada. But who knows, bug may hit sooner or later!!! 
LONDON: In a new twist in the debate over outsourcing, some half a million exam papers from Britain's main secondary school leaving certificate are to be graded in India to save money.
Papers for Britain's key GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exams are to be sent to India for marking in a controversial move to cut costs.
The Assessments and Qualifications Alliance (AQA), Britain's leading school examination board, has signed a two million pound contract for history, French, German and Italian papers to be marked in India.
GCSE exams, which are taken at the 11th year of education, mark one of the most important stages for British school children.
They form the bedrock of a highly competitive jobs and education market, as thousands of children leave school after their GCSEs to pursue career options.
And for those pursuing higher education at the end of year 13, many of Britain's top universities, such as Oxford and Cambridge, will often take an applicant's GCSE grades into account before offering them a place.
Although the AQA says the papers are only being sent formarking one-word answers, the deal, under which 500,000 papers will be marked in India, has been strongly criticised by teachers and others.
"Britain's educational system used to be the envy of the world. Parents are going to be appalled when they read about this new initiative," said Nick Seaton of the Campaign for Real Education, a lobby group formed in 1987 by parents and teachers.
John Dunford, general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, described the deal as "a desperate way to hold up a sinking system".
Annis Garfield, a former examiner in classics and English literature, said: "I am speechless. Indian markers have no idea about our educational system, or what is expected from our children."
The education spokesman for the opposition Conservative Party, Tim Collins, added: "This will do nothing to reassure parents and teachers that our public exam system is sufficiently robust or stretching for pupils."
According to a report published by the pro-Conservative Daily Express newspaper, early trials in India were fraught with problems as several thousand papers were returned late.
A former employee of Data and Research Services, which handles the work for the exam board, said problems with French papers caused panic.
"If there are delays when we only send out a few thousand papers, what will happen in the summer when half a million go out there?" he asked.
A spokeswoman for AQA denied there were any delays."
I am not surprised. Now business is global, so is education (to some extent).
If I am not mistaken, US govt has a pilot project with Indian IT firms to take care of tax returns done electronically. What else is there to be protected? Already medical information and data is sent out to India from some of the uS hospitals for analysis and back office work. Not to forget the radiology work.
Sooner or later Canada will catch up with outsourcing to save money.
DIO
Quote:
Orginally posted by desi in ottawa
Sooner or later Canada will catch up with outsourcing to save money.
DIO
Canada seems to be very slow on this global phenomenon. American companies have been outsourcing for so long now.
man will eventually indians have to do the "back office work" of UK ministries...
canada not into outsourcing...hmm i guess they are in-sourcing the indians to avoid outsourcing
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Hah hah ....!! 
It seems true to some extent..
Quote:
Orginally posted by desi in ottawa
I am not surprised. Now business is global, so is education (to some extent).
If I am not mistaken, US govt has a pilot project with Indian IT firms to take care of tax returns done electronically. What else is there to be protected? Already medical information and data is sent out to India from some of the uS hospitals for analysis and back office work. Not to forget the radiology work.
Sooner or later Canada will catch up with outsourcing to save money.
DIO
US still has plenty of work in terms of transcription, back office work, etc., for locals even after outsourcing. This does not seem to be true for Canada. I feel jobs in Canada are already less in number.
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Don't you think Canada can avoid outsourcing and be a supplier like India, because we have enough pple and ability to be one.
I know expense wise it may be more than india. But do you guys think the quality which India provides and which if canada choose to be a BPO will be much higher, for eg. in customer service.
Again i dont know the quality of BPO's in India..
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