Education Minister Shaik Baksh yesterday said that the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) will be reviewed in 2010 with a view to bring Guyana in line with other CARICOM members in terms of the number of subjects offered at the examinations.

Baksh, speaking at a press briefing at his 21 Brickdam Office, Georgetown, pointed out that in the other CARICOM states, students are examined in only two subjects at the end of the primary cycle. These are English with composition and comprehension, and Mathematics.

“We feel at the Ministry of Education that we have to move in this direction, to ensure that more attention is placed in the grade assessments at Grades Two, Four and Six in English and Mathematics, and to upgrade these areas as well,” he said.

The Ministry believes that this paradigm shift is vital in realising the desired improvement in literacy and numeracy at the primary level.

“This does not mean that science and social studies will not be in the curriculum,” he said, noting that students will not be tested in these two areas in their final Grade Six examinations.

The minister said the new model is just a proposal and if accepted by stakeholders, will be implemented in 2010.