The former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) has given itself a pat on the back for the improved performance at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), which was taken earlier this year.
“The Coalition also congratulates all the students who successfully completed the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA)…These results, which show significant improvement in English, Science and Social Science is testament to APNU+AFC’s commitment to, and investment in, the Education sector over the last five years,” the Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon said today during a virtual press conference. He also recognized the hard work and dedication of students, parents, and educators across the country.
Indeed, the preparation and subsequent sitting of the NGSA was done under the Coalition administration. While there were noted improvements in the three aforementioned subjects, dismal performance was noted in Mathematics, with almost 60% of the 14,000-plus candidates failing to attain 50% or more of the marks required to pass.
He also, on behalf of the Opposition, joined the call for an urgent and thorough probe into the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC)’s issuance of seemingly botched exam results.
Several Caribbean countries including Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados have reported that they are in receipt of ‘inaccurate’ grades for students who recently sat the CSEC and CAPE examinations.
Petitions are already being circulated in some of these countries, with Guyana’s Queen’s College mulling an injunction to prevent CXC from making any exams declaration.
Guyana’s Education Minister has already sought to clarify some of these issues with the Council, however, it is still unclear what the position is now.
