A review of the results of this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) has shown that the students performed best in English Language while Mathematics had the lowest performance rate.
This was revealed at the announcement of the results at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, by Director of Operations, Examinations Services, Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), Dr Nicole Manning.
Giving a report of the overall performance, Dr Manning said the examinations body was interested in not only the highest marks, but also the zero marks. The Council noted that for mathematics there was only one instances where a student scored full marks, while there were 10 instances where students scored zero marks. It was also mentioned that Mathematics had the lowest pass rate of 36.5 per cent compared to 42 per cent in 2019 and the overall performances by other subjects in 2021. Meanwhile English Language had the highest pass rate with 65.71 per cent compared to 57.45 per cent in 2019. The pass rate for Social Studies increased to 56.3 per cent compared to 37.22 per cent in 2019. There were fewer zero marks while a significant increase was noted for full marks for the two subjects. Science had a 40.12 per cent overall pass rate. The Director also remarked that there were nine zero marks for the subject with one student attaining full marks.
“It’s very important because every exam has these scores,” Dr Manning pointed out when explaining why CXC decided to pay attention to the variances. She said that the Ministry and public should be interested in the full marks and zero marks acquired at the exam so that these differences can be addressed and students can be provided with the necessary help required for these subject areas. She also mentioned that there was an almost equal amount for male and female distribution. She noted that 6,814 female candidates and 7,008 males sat the exam.
Meanwhile, according to Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO) Ameer Ali, over 14,000 candidates registered, while 13,821 students wrote the exams. There were 33 new centres opened at different regions where there were none before, to enable an easier transition for students to sit the exams. He said that following consultations, the Ministry decided to have Paper One and Two for the exams. Learners were tested up to Grade Five of the consolidated curriculum, which was developed after the pandemic. This is inclusive of the normal curriculum for grades Three and Four. Examina-tions were written under strict protocols and guidelines.
The exams were prepared by CXC but in the past it has been marked and administered by the Ministry of Education (MoE). However, this year, the ministry had CXC take full control of the marking of the exam. The examination body commenced and completed a process of verification to ensure that the scores that were earned by the candidates are recorded and reflected accurately and fairly in the candidates’ placement, MoE had previously said.
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand said that a number of provisions were made to ensure students were able to sit the examination however, there was notable absenteeism. She mentioned that the children were given 17 text books, which they were expected to return in order to receive their grades but a majority of the books are yet to be returned. There were educational programmes and games created as well as school packages which were sent to each student. In addition, the new centres were opened so that students did not have to travel outside of their region or area to sit the exam. Also, 381 candidates benefited from the new centres at areas like Santa Rosa Mission and along the Upper Essequibo River area in Region Three. Manickchand assured that her ministry will be investigating the reason for the number of absentees recorded and will ensure that provisions will be made to ensure that these students are not left behind.
