After much speculation, fear, and anxiety among students and parents alike, the Ministry of Education has confirmed that the Grade Six National Assessment (GSNA) will be written within the next few weeks.
The GSNA, which was originally scheduled to be written on 28th and 29th May 2020 by Grade Six students from primary schools around the island, will now be taken on July 7th, 2020.
Stakeholders were informed of this latest development by the Ministry of Education officials at a press conference today, 10th June 2020.
The customary 2-day assessment, which saw pupils writing four papers, will now be condensed into three papers. Several other changes have been made to accommodate the Ministry of Health protocols brought about by COVID-19.
The language arts paper 1, which comprised 60 questions previously, will now be reduced to 40 questions. The usual essay will also be done. For the mathematics, students will only be asked to answer a total of 40 questions as opposed to the 60 questions which existed during the pre-COVID-19 era.
The social sciences and science papers which comprised 100 questions combined previously have been cut in half. Instead, pupils will write one general knowledge paper with 50 questions, shared equally between science and social studies, although there is expected to be some overlap.
Senior Education Officer with responsibilities for Measurement and Evaluation, Robert Guiste, explained that strict adherence to protocols will be implemented.
“Strict protocol for social distancing will be adhered to with no more than 10 students with two supervisors in the exam room. We have collaborated with the Ministry of Health and the students will have their temperatures taken. They are not expected to be in physical contact with their friends. They will be required to wear their masks. However, during the writing of the examinations, they may remove their masks,” he stressed.
Another change expected for this year’s examinations is that candidates may choose to write the exams in the community that they reside rather than taking the exams at the school they attend, providing that there is a center in that community. This move is in an effort to reduce travel on the part of the students.
“Parents have until June 19, 2020, to inform the principal about that matter so that we can make the necessary adjustments to facilitate the student,” he added.
Just over 800 students are expected to write the examination this year, a number which has gone down drastically over the last five years.
Nature Isle News extends best wishes to the students and strongly encourages the parents to work diligently with their children as the date draws closer.