Opting out of NGSA will land students in schools closest to homes

…as Guyana keeps paper modality for CAPE, CSEC

Mixed reactions have been shared by parents whose children will have to return to school for examinations, citing the health risks involved during the times of COVID-19.

It was in this regard that the National Grade Six Assessment and those under the Caribbean Examination Council – the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination – were postponed to later dates.
Now, the Education Ministry has employed new protocols for students to sit the exams in a classroom setting and those who opt not to write the NGSA will not be given any preferential alternative.
Speaking on the matter during a webinar on Friday, Chief Education Officer Ingrid Trotman said parents can decide whether they want their children to sit the secondary entrance examination. However, if they do not, these students will be placed at a school closest to their home. These placements, however, do not include an ‘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.
“If the parents opt not to have their children or child write this examination, there is nothing we can do to force them. However, in not doing so, they will be placed at the school closest to them. If they are not satisfied or perhaps if they have any other questions about being placed at the school closest to them, there is what we call the placement examination and that is done during the July month,” she positioned.
Thus far, online learning has been implemented through several online platforms to keep students abreast with the curriculum. With regards to concerns raised by the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) about access to hinterland students, these were taken into account and work papers were later issued by teachers.

Modalities
Through approval from Caricom’s Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) and engagements with stakeholders such as the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the Guyana Teacher’s Union and others, all sittings were scheduled for July to August.
As in previous years, the paper modalities continue for all examinations. Trotman said Guyana and three other countries objected to the modified version of CSEC and CAPE. Since the country is ill-equipped to carry out e-testing, a paper will be allocated for them to complete.
A total of 11,998 students are registered to write the CSEC exams from July 13 to August 4, while 852 are registered to write CAPE from July 13 to July 31.
Candidates will be required to answer a Paper One along with the submission of the respective School-Based Assessment (SBA). Private candidates will have to complete Paper One and the alternative paper instead. This structure does not apply for Modern Languages, Visual Arts and; Human and Social Biology.
For the NGSA, four core subject areas will be tested on July 1 and 2.

Protocols
The Education Ministry is assuring that all safety protocols will be implemented to ensure both students and educators are safe during this time. According to education officials, every scenario has been catered for ‘from the gate to the classroom and back’.
According to Director of the National Centre for Education Resource Development, Jennifer Cumberbatch, sinks were placed at the entrance of schools and students will not be permitted to enter without wearing a mask. They will be given hygiene kits to use during these periods.
Their temperature will be checked and if it is above the average mark, they will be placed in a sickbay. Along with the fumigation of surrounding spaces, the furniture was rearranged to allow social distancing in classrooms with a maximum of 15 candidates. Only the authorised canteen will be allowed to operate at these institutions.
The CEO posited that teachers displaying any ailments or symptoms will be removed from the invigilating sessions.
She clarified, “I would like to say that teachers with ailments will be exempted once they can present evidence or proof of their illness. They will be exempted and given other duties.”
Since mid-March, 252 nursery, 453 primary, 139 secondary schools along with other technical vocational and special education centres have remained closed. Those who will be writing upcoming exams are expected to return to school from June 15.
A gazetted document provides all the necessary information needed for parents and students.