More than 18,000 students are expected to sit the National Grade Six Assessment Examinations scheduled for today and tomorrow.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release preparations are in full swing for about 18,700 students set to be assessed in four subject areas: Mathematics, Science, English and Social Studies.
These subjects are divided into two categories; multiple choice and structured essays. Today English Paper 2 will be held from 9am to 9.55am, English Paper 1 from 10.30am to 11.40am, Science Paper 1 from 1pm to 2.10pm, Science Paper 2 from 2.30pm to 3.25pm. Tomorrow, sessions will open with Mathematics Paper 1 from 9am to 9.55am, Mathematics Paper 2 from 10.45am to 11.40am, Social Studies Paper 1 from 1pm to 2.10pm and Social Studies Paper 2 from 2.30pm to 3.25pm.
Director of the National Centre for Resource Development (NCERD) Mohandatt Goolsarran told GINA that all logistical procedures are in order and persons have been trained to administer the examinations. Students are assessed at Grades Two, Four and Six and the scores are standardized: 5% of the Grade Two scores and 10% of Grade Four are combined with 85% of the Grade Six scores to make the composite scores for the performance at primary level. At grades Two and Four students are examined in three areas English, Mathematics and Reading. At Grade Six, in English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.
Goolsarran said students are placed based on their performance at the assessments. “The children are ranked in order of scores attained and they are placed in schools based on their scores,” he said. Schools are defined in classes A, B and C and when top ranking schools such as Queen’s College, Bishops’ High, St Roses High, St Stanislaus and St Joseph High which are competed for nationally, are filled, placement is done in regional categories classified as grade A, B and C schools.
Goolsarran noted that the grades of the schools are not determined arbitrarily but on the basis of a school’s track record at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC). Based on their performance they are categorized as category A, B and C schools. Goolsarran said with the implementation of the student assessment process, parents are showing greater interest in their children’s education especially at the grades Two and Four levels. “If you look at the extra lesson syndrome around the place you will see that at those early grades parents are taking greater interest in their children, placing greater emphasis on the level of literacy and numeracy,” he said.
GINA said as part of its mandate to improve the education system, the Ministry of Education replaced the Secondary School Entrance Examination with the National Grade Six Assessment which was implemented in 2006. This year 1070 more students are set to be assessed.
According to GINA the assessment process began in 2000 with several pilot projects. The annual examination papers were integrated and used as the model countrywide to ensure that all teachers were at the same level. This process was carried out by experienced practising teachers from the University of Guyana and the Cyril Potter College of Education.
