I do not believe that it would be too much to postpone the NGSA

Jun 18, 2020 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

With the way now cleared for a new administration, I write to support and reiterate the call made in a letter by Omchand Madhu titled “Incoming Minister of Education should postpone National Grade Six Assessment” that appeared in many of our newspapers.
This letter effectively outlines the reasons behind the many calls for the Ministry of Education to postpone the sitting of these examinations. These reasons include the readiness of these young boys and girls to sit these exams in such a short turnaround and serious health risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The writer also noted a lack of public consultation with parents and guardians before setting the dates of these exams. We are clearly not ready to roll out this examination. This statement is not a challenge to the Ministry of Education but rather an acknowledgement of the many issues confronting us at this time. The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) has advised its teachers not to support the sitting of these examinations for the same reasons mentioned. The Amerindian People’s Association (APA) and other important indigenous groups such as the National Toshaos’ Council have highlighted the unreadiness of hinterland students to sit examinations. This week, the Region 10 Regional Health and Emergency Committee (RHEC) asked the Education Ministry to further delay the NGSA citing overcrowding at schools and the severe financial pressures of implementing changes to make them safer. This is a serious issue that highlights the damage of prematurely holding these examinations. Are the children of Region 10 currently turning out to school in unsafe conditions? COVID-19 is still on the rise in Guyana. The Ministry of Public Health’s announcement on 16th June, 2020 that 12 new cases have been recorded was indeed a sobering reminder of this. We have seen reports of at least one teacher in Moruca infected with COVID-19. I have diligently kept my family at home throughout the entire lockdown period and I am now having the risk of my daughter prematurely returning to school to write an exam forced on her. Like all parents, I also want this exam to be over with. However, not at the expense of my family’s safety. I do not believe that it would be too much to postpone this exam even for a few weeks to make sure that all stakeholders are satisfied. Other countries in the region, like Trinidad and Tobago, have done this. Please let us make a sensible decision to do so. The incumbent Prime Minister, Brigadier Mark Phillips, recently advised the Ministry of Education to “take a second look” at its plans to conduct the NGSA in early July and highlighted a number of similar concerns. I trust the new administration will act accordingly.

Sincerely,
Ruth A. Morgan

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