GRADE Six pupils from across the country wrote “mock” exams on Tuesday, as the Education Ministry intensifies its efforts to ensure the pupils are fully prepared for the sitting of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) set for March 28 and 29.

In a press statement, Director of the National Centre for Education Research Development (NCERD), Jennifer Cumberbatch said that Tuesday was set aside for the sitting of Mathematics Paper One and Two. Cumberbatch

explained that such an approach is necessary to ensure that pupils acquaint themselves with the examination since there will not be much difference aside from the questions, come March 28 and 29. The director underscored the importance of a collaborative approach between teacher, parents and the Education Ministry, if additional gains are to be made.

Additionally, Cumberbatch is of the view that such an approach (mock exam) augurs well for the continued improvement of grades amongst Grade Six pupils. An upbeat Cumberbatch said she is confident that the NGSA grades will continue to improve. The director’s optimism was premised on the fact that since the emergency intervention by the current administration to address low pass rates in mathematics at the National Grade Six level, much improvement has been made.

The objective of the mock examination, according to the NCERD Director, is to inform teachers where weaknesses exist with a view to correcting them. Further, Cumberbatch explained that upon the completion of the marking of the mock exams test scripts, the scores will be forwarded to the respective regional education offices which in turn will forward the same grades to the central ministry.

She said that Tuesday’s examination was not for ‘show’ but that the grades will be subjected to a thorough analysis, after which the necessary actions will be taken. The director added that her Ministry will have enough time to ‘pick apart the results’ and she is confident of better results in 2018 compared to 2017.

The ministry has embarked on increased monitoring and evaluation of schools and teachers, to ensure that the methodologies used for the teaching of mathematics and other subjects are in conformity with the best practice set out by the Education Ministry. Added to that, Cumberbatch said that evaluators will continue to visit schools to offer support and that such an approach should not be seen as a punitive one.