High level of absenteeism in Reg 1 for NGSA due to COVID

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a large number of students from Region One (Barima-Waini) were absent from the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), written in July.

This was disclosed by Superintendent of Examinations, Saudia Kadir-Grant on Monday at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), where the country’s top performers were announced.
“We had a high percentage of absenteeism in Region One, particularly in the Santa Rosa-Moruca district and that was due to COVID-19,” Kadir-Grant told the media.
Written on July 1 and 2, a total of 14,032 children sat the examination. This was less than the over 14,300 who were registered. During this time, the Region had seen an upsurge in cases from the coronavirus and was labelled a hotspot. In fact, some parts of the region were under complete lockdown.
In July, the COVID-19 hotspots were Moruca and Mabaruma in Region One; Aranka, Bartica and Sulphur Rose in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Itabac and Mahdia in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); and Lethem in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
When asked about the next steps for these children, Education Minister Priya Manickchand informed that they would be placed at a secondary institution closest to home.
“Students had the option of not writing the exams and if they chose that option, then the school that would be awarded to them is the school closest to their home. The dreams, that I don’t believe is beyond realisation, is to make sure we move to a place where every school is given high-quality education. Before long, you are going to see that,” she expressed.
In early June, when the logistics were being considered for the assessment, acting Chief Education Officer Ingrid Trotman said parents can decide whether they want their children to sit the examination. However, if they did not, they would be placed at a school near their residents. But these placements, however, do not include a “Grade A” or “national” school.
The following year after completing the Grade Seven level, provisions will be in place for them to write a placement test. If they score above 70 per cent, a higher school will be awarded.
The Education Ministry had assured that all safety protocols would be implemented to ensure both students and educators are safe. According to education officials, every scenario was catered for “from the gate to the classroom and back”.
During the NGSA sitting, sinks were placed at the entrance of schools and students were not permitted to enter without wearing a mask. Their temperature was checked along with there being a new sitting environment to allow social distancing in classrooms. This entailed a maximum of 15 candidates per class. Parents were not allowed to enter the compound.
With the mid-March closure of schools, 252 nursery, 453 primary and 139 secondary schools along with other technical, vocational and special education centres were closed. They were opened just to facilitate examinations. All have remained closed to date while activities continue online, through workbooks, television and radio platforms. (G12)