Grade Six mock examinations to start today

Grade Six students across Guyana will begin the first of two National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) mock examinations today.
On Tuesday, the Education Ministry said that over 90 per cent of students will be writing the examination in their classrooms while the remaining students have opted to write the examination at home.
This, the Ministry added, will be the first time in 13 months that primary-aged pupils will be attending school, with the exception of the NGSA last year.
“The examination will be conducted under strict COVID-19 guidelines. Students, teachers and staff of each school will be sanitised and have their temperature checked before entering the compound or classroom,” the Education Ministry said in a statement, adding that during the day other sanitisation exercises will take place to ensure a safe environment for students and teachers.
The two-day examination will be treated as a diagnostic test by teachers as they work to prepare students for the official examinations to be written on August 4 and 5.
The second mock examination is scheduled for July 2021.
Some students will not be writing the first mock examination on the scheduled dates due to some communities being placed on lockdown due to COVID-19 while others are flooded, making schools and homes inaccessible.
As part of the Ministry’s efforts to assist parents and students to sit these examinations, each student would have received a care package containing masks, pencils, eraser, sharpener, a ruler, hand sanitiser and vitamin support. Teachers and support staff will also receive hand sanitiser, face masks, face shield and vitamin support.