…as NGSA commences countrywide

By Naomi Parris
ANXIETIES were high on Wednesday morning, as parents sent off their children to their respective primary schools on the East Coast of Demerara to write the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NGSA is considered a ‘stepping stone’ for children as they say goodbye to their primary school days and enter into a new era of learning and growth. The results of the assessment determine which secondary school a student will attend in the new school term, and every child is vying for a spot at the top secondary schools in the country. As such, some children are filled with a bittersweet anxiety as they enter the examination room. However, parents as well as teachers, ‘in normal times’ would remain at the school during the day to reassure them and boost their confidence during breaks; but given the current health crisis such is not allowed.

The Guyana Chronicle journeyed along the East Coast corridor and spoke to a number of parents and teachers who were in high spirits as they made their way to schools for the very first two subjects.

Miss Bibi, a teacher and parent attached to the Enmore/Hope primary school stated that she is not only concerned about her child but also about her other pupils whom she taught during the pandemic. Nevertheless, she added that she was confident that the pupils will persevere and be successful in the end.

“As a parent and as a teacher it has been really difficult, because for children this is their first [big] examination and it is an examination that determines their future and so to speak children need that reassurance that teachers and parents would be around but parents aren’t allowed to stick around,” the teacher stated.

She added that, amid the anxieties of the actual examination, pupils are still faced with grasping the reality of what a pandemic is and what is going on around them.
Another parent, David Chung, stated that, “I am feeling confident and likewise the children should feel the same reason being they had more time on hand due to the pandemic to do a little bit more studying. They had three months additional grace period that they could have developed themselves.”

Meanwhile, Arlene Gardener was in high spirits as she preached manifestations of positivity for the children of Guyana as they made their way to schools.
“COVID aint got nothing on these children, because I know, and I trust God that they will make it. COVID is only here to bring people to consciousness,” the woman exclaimed.
Another parent who gave her name as Miss Lowes noted that her son had been working extremely hard and is aiming for a spot at President’s College on the East Coast of Demerara. The woman related that she was a bit skeptical since the pupils only had a short time to revise what they would have learned with their teachers.

The woman further noted that, by all means necessary, she made sure that her son received the best tutoring he could get during the time he was at home. “Some of the children didn’t have the internet to get their lessons on ‘zoom’. My experience personally was that, when his class teacher started the zoom lessons, I didn’t have internet, so I had to hurry and get the internet sorted out for him to join the zoom class. I could say I am one of the fortunate ones”.

Nicola Charles whose child attends the St. Andrews Primary told the Guyana Chronicle that she was confident in her son’s ability and was in high spirits. “I’m quite confident with my son. He’s been working hard at home and he has been revising a lot. I mean it’s a challenge for the children because of the coronavirus, but we can just hope for the best and everything is in the hands of God”.

Meanwhile, another parent who gave her name as Nickacey admitted that she was nervous due to the fact that the cases were still climbing amid the re-opening of the schools and the days leading up to the examinations.

Nevertheless, she added that she was confident that the pupils who attended the St. Andrews primary will do well, since the teachers, along with the headteacher, had been working overtime during the pandemic to ensure that every child received tutoring.
Lloyd Bruce, another parent, whose son attended the Victoria Primary School, made sure that he schooled his child, not only on his academics, but also about the pandemic and the risks of not adhering to the guidelines, “ I spoke to him and told him to wash his hands, protect you and others.”