Gone is the old PSU and temporary PDT. The new Higher Education Access Test (PAES) will not only be another way of measuring students’ knowledge after completing secondary education. In addition, it will change the paradigm that exists about its results. The exam to be given on November 28, 29 and 30 will eliminate the “national scores”. The new format, which will have up to 1,000 points, will seek to establish a new method to highlight the merit of the students.
According to the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCh), the new measurement will take into account the narrow difference between a national score and another student who answers all the test correctly except for one question. Also, as stated The Mercuryit was taken into consideration that the national scores tend to be more male, from private schools and in mathematics, with other deserving students to highlight.
The undersecretary of Higher Education, Verónica Figueroa, said that “we find ourselves carefully looking at what has been understood as ‘merit’, and how this, from its most traditional conception, would not respond to the principles that support social justice raised, for example, by UNESCO”. And she added that they seek to “reformulate the way in which, historically, students have been recognized and that has focused mainly on the results they obtain, without considering their contexts and trajectories at all.”
“Soon we will make announcements about this recognition modality that the Committee for Access to Higher Education is developing for the 2023 admission process,” added Undersecretary Figueroa.
It is worth mentioning that the change will also imply making an adjustment to the National Score Scholarship that is delivered by higher education institutions.
