Over 13,000 pupils participate in 2017 NGSA

Apr 13, 2017 News

Minister Rupert Roopnaraine engages some pupils ahead of the start of the assessment yesterday

More than 13,000 pupils began participating in the National Grade Six Assessment which commenced yesterday. Giving pupils motivational talks at two primary schools – Plaisance and Bel Air Primary – was Senior Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine.
At the schools, Dr. Roopnaraine reminded the children of the rules of the exam which included: read carefully, study all pictures, diagrams, charts, maps, tables, graphs, well before answering the questions, Read all of the choices before selecting the answer, answer ALL the multiple choice questions, choose only ONE answer for the multiple choice, answer only FOUR questions in Paper Two, choose a topic that you know most about for your Composition, check over your work when you have finished, think, think and think and arrive early or on time at your examination centre.
“You are at the beginning of a long journey with many stops but it is important that you make a good start,” Dr. Roopnaraine stated.
While regaling the students with memories of his school days, the Minister urged the children to be excited about learning new things since this is a life activity. They were also encouraged to participate in physical activities such as sports.
The Minister was joined by the Chief Education Officer, Mr. Marcel Hutson; Assistant Chief Education Officer – Primary, Mr. Orin Pollard; and the District Officers from Region Four and Georgetown.
Prior to the sitting of this year’s exam, Grade Six pupils around Guyana participated in three mock exams which were a part of the Mathematics Intervention implemented by the Education Ministry.
Over the last few months, the pupils and their teachers were exposed to a number of innovative ways of teaching and practising Maths. The intent was to increase the performance of the students especially in Mathematics.
This initiative has had seven strategic points of action including Strategy 1 – Training in Content & Methodology for Teachers; Strategy 2 – Facilitate Fortnightly Cluster Meetings in all Regions; Strategy 3 – Recruitment of Mathematics Coordinators and Monitors; Strategy 4 – Training of School Administrators to Supervise the Teaching of Mathematics; Strategy 5 – Administering Diagnostic Assessment in Selected Regions; Strategy 6 – Public Relation/Parental Involvement Strategy and Strategy 7 – Acquisition of Resources (Teaching Aids).
This initiative is a continuous process that will see positive results in the years to come that will also impact pupils’ performance at the CSEC and CAPE levels.
This response by the Education Ministry follows President David Granger’s expressed concerns about the poor performance in Mathematics by students sitting the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).
Based on information issued by the Ministry 13,657 pupils participated in the 2017 NGSA.
While pupils participated in English and Science Papers One and Two yesterday they will today focus on the Mathematics and Social Studies Papers One and Two.

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