Grade Six assessment to be postponed again

-nursery students unlikely to return to schools before next year Internal probe implicates three city workers in fraud -alleged mastermind walked off job

The National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) will once again be postponed from being held in March/April.

Speaking at a virtual news conference on the phased reopening of schools, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand said that there were many requests for face- to- face learning for the grade six students after the ministry announced that those at the secondary level who are due to write CXC examinations would be returning to schools this week. However, she said that given that the COVID-19 cases are still rising, the NGSA will be postponed. This year’s NGSA sittings were also postponed.

Manickchand explained that the NGSA is administered by the Ministry of Education and, therefore, can be adjusted as the ministry sees fit to ensure that the best results, which indicate the best placement for each student. She also said that the ministry is still considering the option of writing the paper one only or testing based on work up to the Grade Five level. This will be determined when the students return, she further noted.

Additionally, Manickchand said that the phased reopening will see nursery school children being the last batch to return to school and she does not anticipate that being anytime soon or in 2020. Manickchand also said that the ministry has not consulted enough to make pronouncements on the nursery cohort. She also noted that the ministry is currently relying on worksheets which are being picked up and then taken back to school for marking for the young children to continue learning.

The Ministry has thus far completed the printing of worksheets to cover work which would be taught from weeks 1 to 8 of the new school term. The worksheets are being printed for all levels. Manickchand said that worksheets for term two are in progress.

An internal investigation has implicated three employees of the City Treasurer’s Department in fraud and one of them has since walked off the job.

In July, it was announced that five employees from the City Treasurer’s Department had been sent on administrative leave following an allegation that they committed fraud.

City Treasurer John Douglas had made the discovery and alerted the Town Clerk, who then reported the

allegation to Mayor Ubraj Narine and a decision was made to pursue further investigations into the allegation.

At a statutory meeting yesterday, Narine stated that an investigation was launched by the City Constabulary and three of the five persons accused were found to be responsible, while the remaining two were cleared.

The mastermind, who was one of the three persons implicated, subsequently walked off the job, he added.

The council yesterday voted to have the remaining two workers suspended, transferred to another department which does not handle cash, and reimburse the council its money, which is said to amount to under $100,000.

Councillor Clayton Hinds suggested that they be closely monitored for a year and a report done on a quarterly basis to assist in determining their fate.

This suggestion was approved by the council with a seven votes in its favour, and two against. Three other councillors abstained.

Narine said the probe found that the workers were aware of the illegal activities that were being done. He also said that the occurrence would see a new way of moving forward as it relates to the changing of cheques.