Education ministry releases Grade Six exams timetable
-strict adherence to health protocols expected
The timetable for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), as well as health protocols to be followed during the sitting of exams were released yesterday.
Grade Six students who will be writing the NGSA on July 1 and 2 were yesterday informed of the exam’s timetable by the Ministry of Education. The public was also informed of the strict health protocols which are to be adhered to throughout the preparations and sitting of these exams.
Issued in the Official Gazette (02 June, 2020, Legal Supp. B) is a strict protocol which teachers, students and parents, alike, are expected to follow to ensure their safety as students set out to take these exams. Some of the mandates include ensuring that all schools have appropriate sanitisation stations, a designated sick bay, adequate sanitisation supplies for routine cleaning of the schools and markings to ensure persons are six feet apart at all times (these are expected to be dealt with prior to the opening of the schools). Additionally, students are expected to wear face masks before entering the school compound, but should they show up without masks, one will be provided for them. Washing of hands and checking of temperatures will be done and in the event of a student showing up with a temperature greater than 38 degrees Celsius, the child will be isolated in the sickbay area and screened by medical personnel.
Daily cleaning and sanitising will be done before the commencement of exams and cleaners will be trained in infection prevention and control practices. Vending has been prohibited at the facilities and as such, pupils are expected to take their lunch to school which will be consumed during a half-hour lunch break. After entering the compound, persons are not allowed to exit and re-enter.
Parents or guardians are advised to pick up their children after classes or examinations and students who plan to go home on their own will be guided by teachers or invigilators.
Even with all of these systems in place, the Guyana Teachers’ Union is still maintaining its objection to the Ministry’s decision to have these exams written in July rather than postponing it until September. The union previously shared its concerns with Stabroek News and stated its opinion that a postponement would be a safer option. As such, the union will be holding a general council meeting tomorrow, when a decision from the council will be made and released to the public.
Since the closure of all schools in March, the Ministry of Education has put Nursery, Primary and Secondary schools learning materials online and asked parents to assist with the education of their children. There has also been educational content printed in the daily newspapers and broadcast on radio and television.