…efforts continue to source vaccine for children – Health Minister
Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Grade Six students across the country on Wednesday turned out to write the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) English and Science after an entire year of being out of the classroom.
Speaking with Guyana Times, some students reflected on the exams and how they thought they performed in such a challenging environment. They all stated that the science paper had been somewhat difficult but they managed to do their best regardless.
NGSA students taking the exams at the Suddie Primary School
Damari Lindore of the Wismar Hill Primary School expressed optimism following the English Language and Science exam.
“I have confidence in myself. I hope to attend Queen’s College. I was studying all day and all night, nonstop. English was very easy. Science was alright,” he related.
Zalika Gilgeous of the One Mile Primary related that overall, the first day of the exams was very manageable for her.
“…the exams were manageable…I would like to attend Queen’s College, because it has more opportunities,” she stated, although she explained that it was a bit difficult preparing for the exams during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Akeda Croft of the Wismar Hill Primary School said while the two subjects were manageable, the Science Paper Two proved a bit challenging for her.
“The exam was simply easy…the Paper Two of the Science was a bit difficult,” she revealed.
She said she wished to gain enough marks to attend President’s College since one of her parents resides in Georgetown.
Tia Sampson also expressed mixed feelings following the first day of the exams.
“I’m not too sure about the Science Paper One, but I got through with all the rest,” she said as she shared her hopes of attaining enough marks to attend Queen’s College.
NGSA students taking the exams at the No.29 Primary School, west Coast Berbice
Vaccines
Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony on Wednesday reassured the public that efforts are being made to source the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for children before the scheduled reopening of schools in September.
“The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education – we have a joint committee and we’ve been constantly engaged and our expectation is that we would be able to open schools sometime in September, but obviously as we get closer to that date, we’ll assess the epidemiological situation with COVID in the country. We’re working on getting the vaccines so that children between the ages 12-18 would be able to get those vaccines … we’re working and hopefully we’ll get those vaccines before school reopening.”
The Minister noted that as soon as the vaccines were acquired, the Health Ministry will be coordinating with the Education Ministry in administering these vaccines to children.
To date, only the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have gone through clinical trials and have been given emergency authorisation for children between the ages of 12 and 18.
Government has been actively engaged in negotiations with various organisations in an attempt to source vaccines for children.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand last month had stated that Government was looking to reopen schools by September, given that the vaccination rate increased to a significant percentage and there was some degree of normalcy in the population.
NGSA students in Lethem preparing for the exams at Arapaima primary School
Schools in Guyana have been closed since the outbreak of COVID-19 here in March 2020. There has been partial reopening only to accommodate students writing national and regional examinations.
Among the safety measures that are in place to facilitate the examination periods are the sanitising and washing of hands before entering examination buildings, the wearing of the recommended face mask, observing and maintaining social distancing at all times and the cleaning and sanitising of buildings and furniture.
This year, there are 33 new examination centres spread across the 11 education districts where candidates are writing the examination.
In addition to the examination centres, the Education Ministry has established emergency centres that can accommodate those candidates who may have tested positive for COVID-19 or are in quarantine.
