–defends integrity of exam results, slams political interference in children’s education

THE Ministry of Education (MOE) has shut down what it described as an “irresponsible and reckless” statement made by We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) candidate Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, who questioned the credibility of the 2025 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry rebuffed Halley’s suggestion that the number of requests for reviews indicates that something is amiss, dismissing the claim as both ignorant and misleading.
The Ministry noted that requests for reviews are a standard feature of any responsible examination system, and that such requests have remained relatively consistent over the past five years.
According to the Ministry, the number of review applications has shown little fluctuation, 258 in 2020, 261 in 2021, 241 in 2022, 185 in 2023, 267 in 2024, and 257 this year, making it clear that there is nothing abnormal about the current level of review submissions.
The Ministry also pushed back against what it called an “ignorant claim” from Halley’s party leader that this year’s NGSA results reflect a decline in student performance, noting instead that Guyana has recorded its best-ever performance at the NGSA in 2025.
The Ministry reported that 64 per cent of the pupils achieved 50 per cent or more in all subjects, compared to 49 per cent in 2020, with every subject trending upwards nationally.
This performance, the Ministry stressed, did not happen by chance, as it credited the improved results to deliberate government investments in the education sector, including school construction, teacher training, provision of textbooks, school feeding programmes, the “Because We Care” cash grant, and expanded access to educational content via the Guyana Learning Channel.
The NGSA is set, managed, and marked by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), and the Ministry warned that attempts to sow doubt about the exam’s credibility not only reflect a lack of understanding of the system but also risk undermining the qualifications of all students who pass through it.
As such, the Ministry cautioned that such unfounded criticisms could have serious consequences for the country’s young people as they seek jobs or further their education both locally and internationally.
Calling on political parties and their candidates to exercise greater responsibility, the Ministry is urging public figures to avoid jeopardizing the future of children for the sake of political point-scoring.