–signal of realisation of universal primary education, says Minister Manickchand
YESTERDAY morning the doors of more than 400 primary schools spread across Guyana opened their doors for over 18,000 boys and girls who began sitting the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), which commenced yesterday with English Language. Science, Mathematics and Social Studies will be written today. This year’s NGSA candidates have already written the National Grades 2 and 4 assessments in 2008 and 2010, respectively, hence the results which will be released before the opening of the next school term will report on their overall performance at the three levels.
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, yesterday visited the Stella Maris and Winfer Gardens Primary Schools to check on their readiness and to encourage the students to perform at their best.
She acknowledged that all across the country children are sitting the examination, an indication of Guyana’s attainment of Universal Primary Education that is one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Minister Manickchand noted that while some parts of the world are struggling to meet some of these goals, Guyana has met that particular goal which means that every child in Guyana has access to primary education.
She added that the sitting of the exam also shows that children in every nook and cranny of the country have access to primary education.
Minister Manickchand emphasised that there were no real glitches in getting the children ready for the examination.
With regard to the achievement of Universal Secondary Education, the Minister recalled that the now President, Donald Ramotar, while on the campaign trail, had said that it was going to happen in his tenure. The ministry is working feverishly towards achieving this, and already has a map pinpointing where schools are needed and discussions are on-going as to what has to be done to realize access.
Minister Manickchand noted that very shortly the ministry will be rolling out how it intends to do that.
ACEO- Primary, Marcell Hutson, noted that prior to the exams, he ensured that the Regional Education Officers gave the students the opportunity to do some amount of revision, since this is important.
“We urge our children not to become too overconfident, but to be calm and to ensure they focus so that they can produce,” he said.
Hutson emphasised that it is compulsory that all children access primary education, due to its foundational nature; and any school that is going to do well must be supported by parents.
He explained that research has shown that when parents are integrally involved in their children’s education, those children tend to perform better.
Superintendant Examinations Division, Saudia Kadir, indicated that the preparations for the NGSA begin in September of the year prior to the examination, with schools doing the registrations. Exam papers are prepared, printed and distributed. “All preparations are in place and results should be ready before the end of the school year,” she said.