…implemented over the last three years
THE improvements that Guyana has seen in the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) for 2011 came as a result of the many initiatives that were put forward by the Education Ministry over the last three years.
This is according to Education Minister Shaik Baksh who expressed satisfaction with the overall performances of the students that were entered for this year’s assessment while addressing a press briefing yesterday at the Ministry’s boardroom.
The NGSA written on April 20 and 21, 2011 saw some 17,392 which represents an increase of 1,000 students over 2010.
A percentage of the marks gained at the Grade Two and the Grade Four Assessments was combined with the marks gained at the Grade Six Assessment in order to determine the candidates’ overall scores.
Five percent of each candidate’s Grade Two score in Mathematics and English, and ten percent of the Grade Four score in the same subjects, were added to eighty five percent of each candidate’s score in those subjects. The combined scores in Mathematics and English were added to the scores gained in Science and Social Studies.
The highest possible standardised scores obtainable were Mathematics 136, English 138, Social Studies 134 and Science 143.
The Education Minister while addressing the press briefing noted that pupils who gained 50 percent and more in Mathematics have shown an improvement of 41 percent this year as opposed to 34 percent in 2010.
In the areas of English Language, Science and Social Studies there have been an improvement of 14 percent, 10 percent and one percent respectively.
The Ministry of Education believes that since the implementation of the National Grade Four Certificate Programme, the New Literacy Methodology which includes the Literacy Hour and Accelerated Literacy Instruction Periods, the Interactive Radio Instruction programme and the Fast-track Literacy programme students have been improving drastically in the various subject areas thus such an improvement at the NGSA.
Baksh said with more plans underway for the education sector Guyana should look forward for massive improvements countrywide.
Last year, pupils performed commendably at the National Grade Six Assessment.
