NGSA, CSEC 2026 preparation: “Practice, practice, practice” – Chief Planning Officer to students

…as Maths tents launched nationwide

As preparations for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations intensifies, education officials are urging students to focus on consistent practice, particularly in Mathematics.
Chief Planning Officer at the Education Ministry, Misckha White-Griffith, has said that the most important factor is mastering Mathematics is simple, but powerful practice.
“Practice, practice, practice. You do that repeatedly with your concepts. Do it with a friend. The more you teach your friend, you strengthen your skill. And not only will you pass, but you will tag along your friends with you. So, the entire group will celebrate,” she emphasized.
She also pointed out that repetition and constant engagement with concepts are still very important for building up confidence and preparing for success before the exams. She also pointed out that another important aspect is collaborative learning, where students learn with their peers and teach one another to reinforce their understanding and mastery of the subject.
The Education Ministry has launched a new initiative called “Maths Tents” to help students across the nation. The objective is to provide students with additional learning support outside the classroom, especially for students preparing for the CSEC exams, while also reviewing the basics for primary students.
According to White-Griffith, the Maths Tents initiative will take place in different areas starting this Saturday, where students from any school are free to attend the sessions at a particular location within their area. Every week, students can expect to learn a particular area of mathematics that will be announced through the official platforms.
The initiative will be an additional activity to supplement the current learning activities taking place in class and students’ current use of the Ministry’s digital learning platform.
The teacher will still be with the students in school, and students will also be putting in their own effort outside of school using their textbooks and online resources. However, with the Math Tents, students will be able to get an additional push to improve their understanding and exam performance.
White-Griffith was very optimistic about students’ participation. She stated that she would be visiting various tents and interacting with students during their activities. She promised to have some surprises for students who would be actively engaged during their practice.