Why not, examiners (or teachers) should use other colour for marking!

Why not, examiners (or teachers) should use other colour for marking!

PROF WAQAR HUSSAIN

        Studies have suggested that the red colour is associated with negativity. Report says that red pen correction cause emotional distress in students. Study revealed that students think; they have been assessed more harshly if checked with red ink compared to more neutral colours like green or blue.

       In 2008, hundreds of school banned teachers from using red ink to check work because they considered it ‘confrontational’ and ‘threatening’.

         The colour issue carry no weight as red marking is more visible and also contains message of warning, prohibition, caution, anger, embarrassment, displeasure, to be careful in future- all are mandatory advices to train and groom a student. On the other hand, red written; tick mark, well-done, good, excellent, A+, carry encouragement, delight, achievement, happiness and pride.

               Another point should be kept in mind that it is the conditioning of red colour with “assessment” and “marking”, if pen of other colour is used regularly, same conditioning will emerge with that colour, carrying same level of harassment, distress and threat. So, the visibility factor must be kept in mind that is the hallmark of red ink only.