Over 18,000 pupils sit National Grade Six Assessment
–signal of realization of universal primary education- Minister Manickchand

Georgetown, GINA, March 4, 2012
Source - GINA

This morning the doors of more than 400 primary schools spread across Guyana opened their doors for the over 18,000 boys and girls who began sitting the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) which commenced today with English Language. Science, Mathematics and Social Studies will be written tomorrow.

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.

Minster of Education Priya Manickchand interacting with students of West Field Prep just before they took their seats in the Stella Maris Primary to sit the National Grade Six Assessment

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand today visited the Stella Maris and Winfer Gardens Primary Schools to check on their readiness and to encourage the students to perform to their best.

She acknowledged that all across the country children are sitting the examination as indication of Guyana’s attainment of Universal Primary Education that is one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). 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.

Students of the Winfer Gardens Primary school being encouraged to do their best by Minister of Education Priya Manickchand

With regards to the achievement of Universal Secondary Education, the Minister recalled that the now President, Donald Ramotar while on the campaign trail said that it was going to happen in his tenure. The Ministry is working feverishly towards achieving such and already has a map pinpointing where schools are needed and discussions are on-going as to what has to be done to materialise 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.

Stella Maris pupils awaiting to get into their school to sit the National Grade Six Assessment

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 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 school closes at the end of the school year,” she said.