The Ministry of Education today gazetted the Order governing the administration of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), and the following Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) exams–Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).
The Order, signed by Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry outlines numerous measures that have to be followed for the reopening of schools between June 8 and August 15 to allow for the sitting of the examinations scheduled for July-August.
Some such measures the Education Ministry has implemented to minimize the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) will only allow 15 students in each classroom or examination room at a time, sitting at least six feet apart. All students will be required to wear masks upon entering the school’s compound.
Also, all schools shall have a designated sickbay or quarantine area that is well ventilated and equipped with a bed, first aid kit and personal protective gear such as masks and gloves to accommodate any student that is suspected to be exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms until emergency arrives.
Also, the temperature of all staff and students will be checked at the entrance of the examination center.
All schools shall have adequate sanitation supplies such as bleach, soap powder, and alcohol-based sanitizers. Schools must be routinely clean every day, the Order states.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) has continued to object to the proposed dates for the examinations and as such, the Union will meet on Friday, June 05, for discussions.
The Union, in a press statement, said that they met with the Ministry of Education (Moe) last Friday, May 29, 2020, when a plan was shared as it relates to the proposals for these examinations.
The Union however noted that it objected to the proposed dates for the examinations. In light of the foregoing, a General Council Meeting is planned for Friday, June 05, 2020, when it will discuss and monitor the preparedness of schools based on the Ministry’s COVID-19 proposal.
NGSA will be held on the 1st and 2nd of July 2020. Meanwhile, the dates for CSEC and CAPE have been given as 13th July 2020- 4th August 2020 and 13th July–31st July 2020 respectively. These examinations will be written using a paper-based modality.
