How are we to interpret the NGSA 2017 scores?

Jul 05, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
According to the Ministry of Education, “Improvements were recorded in all the subject areas for 2017 as compared to 2016. The most improved subject was Mathematics, which recorded an increase of over 30% in the number of candidates gaining 50% and more.”
Therefore, congratulations are in order for the Education Officers and for the teachers and the parents and the candidates. But let us pause a moment, and ask for some clarification.
Firstly, it would be useful to know of what total “50% and more” is calculated on. It could not be the ‘maximum possible score’ of 132, because this is a Standardized Score. In 2016 the ‘maximum possible score’ in Mathematics was 138. Hence, it can only be the Raw Score that was used to count the number of candidates gaining 50% and more. But schools are not given the Raw Scores for the teachers to do their own analysis.
This used to be done in the 1980s.
Secondly, with the total ‘maximum possible score’ this year being 529 as compared to 583 last year (a difference of 54 points), it is not simple for parents to gauge the performance of their children with reference to scores in the recent past. For example, a score of 500 or more in 2016 or 2015 or 2014 would have indicated a very good performance. This year it would have to be about 475 or more, because we are dealing with Standardized Scores, hence, the need for the schools to have the Raw Scores.
Thirdly, because we are dealing with Standardized Scores, it is misleading to calculate your score as a percentage of the total ‘maximum score’ as was done in the Kaieteur News of Sunday, July 2, 2017 (Page 53) when the score of 509 was regarded as a 96.2 percent effort. It is possible that the Raw Scores which led to a total score of 509 could indicate an actual performance of less than 80%, hence, again the need to have the Raw Scores.
Lastly, how far are we from the Freedom of Information Act?
Walter B. Alexander
Former A.C.E.O. (Secondary)

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