A new software application (app), aimed at improving the performance of pupils sitting Mathematics at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) level, was launched yesterday at the National Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown.
Implemented by STEMGuyana, the NGSA Practice Exam app is being rolled out in four phases, the second of which commenced yesterday and is expected to run for the next 14 months.
Co-founder of STEMGuyana Karen Abrams explained that plans to develop the app began after a “slide in Grade Six math scores” was identified during a course of an assessment conducted by the organization.
“We thought, considering the future is going to be about technology regardless of the field you go into, we want to ensure that our children were going to be competitive in the future,” she said.
“We cannot afford to have our 10 and 11 year olds thinking that they are bad at Math; Math is a fundamental subject. If you don’t get it at 10, you’re going to struggle at it at 11, you’re going to struggle at it when you’re 12 and 13 and by time you graduate you don’t want to see it. We cannot afford to see that happen,” she added.
Developed with the inputs of two local teachers and a Math PhD teacher from Serbia, Abrams said, the app is an interactive platform where students would not only have the opportunity to enhance their mathematical skills but also give commendations to outstanding teachers within the STEM field.
It also provides a marketplace for books and school-related items, school event calendars and a National School Ranking based on the number of students who practice on the app.
Additionally, students would be able to access points based on their performance, which can make them eligible for awards in the future.
Important to note, is the access to a databank of past Mathematics papers from 2010-2016 for practice purposes that will be given to students who use the app. Students would also have the option of testing their knowledge with customized tests and having access to video lessons on the material and participate in other exercises.
According to Abrams, prior to the roll out of the second phase, a pretest phase was undertaken where 60 students from Regions One, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven and Ten were given the chance to test the application.
Once the second phase is completed, Abrams said, the organization will seek to create partnerships to ensure that Grade Six students in every region have internet access and tablets and other android devices so that they can access the application.
Eventually, it will be expanded to include Social Studies, English and Science. Once successful, the project will be extended to the upper grades in Guyana and beyond that will be launched across the Caribbean.
The app also received the support of President David Granger, who after the official launch committed to assist with the acquisition of 100 tablets that will be distributed to grade five students as part of phase two of the project.
The support, he said, will be provided through the National Endowment for Science and Techno-logy (NEST) Programme.
“What we saw this morning with the launching of the programme by STEMGuyana is entirely in accord with government’s policy and government will support it. We will provide funds to acquire the equipment to help students to do better in Mathematics. It’s an investment. It’s not a liability. It’s not expenses. It is an investment in the children’s future,” the President said.
Alluding to the less than favourable results recorded over the past years at the NGSA level, Granger noted that the worst performance has been recorded in Math.
“In fact, it is so bad that last year—2016—not a single child in Region Nine passed Mathematics… We established a special … Programme for Emergency Education Reform [PEER] at that level so the PEER programme is central to improving the quality performance of Guyanese children at the National Grade Six level particularly in Mathematics,” he related.
Meanwhile, First Lady Sandra Granger who also served as an advisor on the project commended STEMGuyana for taking the initiative to create an application that provides critical support for students who are preparing for the NGSA.
“I was very excited when she told me she was working on an app for our primary school children, which would make it simple for them to learn Mathematics. So I am very happy to be part of this process of creating excitement in learning one of the STEM subjects and providing whatever assistance I can in helping our children to become enthusiastic and excited about STEM programmes and products,” the First Lady said.
Responding to questions relating to the cost of developing the application, Mrs Granger explained that the creation of the app was a collaborative effort between Abrams and her children.
“This is really a labour of love… because they are using their combined technological skills to do something for the benefit of the children of Guyana… She brought in her children’s programming skills and for that I am truly grateful for and I am truly impressed by this project,” she said.
Though it is still in its testing phase, the NGSA Practice Exam app is currently available for download free of cost from the app stores for both Android and IOS devices.
