SOME 120 teachers from both public and private schools in Region Three (West Demerara / Essequibo Islands), last Friday, attended a one-day reading assessment workshop. According to a release from the Region’s Administration Office, the assessment was held at two locations: the Regional Office’s boardroom, Vreed-en-Hoop; and at the Leonora Primary School.
The same release noted that the Head of Curriculum Development and Implementation Unit at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Ms. Sandra Persaud; and Ms. Sitaldai Kartick Lewis, Senior Test Development Officer, were the facilitators.
Persaud, the statement said, made it clear that the aim of the session was to provide the opportunity for teachers to become au-fait with eth new format for the Grades Two and Four Reading Assessments.
Noting that the old format has a single component, Persaud – according to the release – explained that the new format has three components inclusive of word recognition, non-words and the reading passage and questions.
The release stated too Persaud said the new format was developed following feedback which was below expectations from previous assessments of the old format.
She reportedly told participants that the new initiative is as a result of several reviews which were done by specialists and senior officials from the Ministry of Education.
The release highlighted that during the workshop participants gained first hand knowledge and were exposed to practical sessions.
Also, it stated that the general consensus among the participants was that the new format provides the opportunity for a better assessment of children’s performance.
Addressing the opening of the workshop, the release said, was Regional Education Officer Marlyn Jones-O’Donoghue.
She reportedly urged teachers to ensure they covered the literacy standards within the particular grade since the success of the new format rests primarily on the implementation and administering of the assessment in a fair and objective manner.
Jones-O’Donoghue, the release said, observed that parents and guardians have a crucial role and so she urged teachers to ensure that the importance of the assessments be conveyed to them.
In this way, she, according to the release, said the issues of regularity and punctuality of children will be addressed.