PEP comes with ‘high order test’

THE PRIMARY Exit Profile (PEP) exam slated to begin in 2019 will have three distinct components which are the high order test, the performance task, and an ability test.

“The high order test will be the test that they will perform at the end of their time in grade six, and it will be a combination of multiple-choice and shortanswer essay-type questions,” Education Minister Ruel Reid disclosed on Friday at a Gleaner Editors’ Forum at the company’s North Street offices in central Kingston.

The performance task, the minister disclosed, will be comparable to the current school-based assessment done by students preparing to sit the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exams and will span grades four and five.

Reid addressing the issue of quality control of the assessment said, like at CXC, teachers will assess the students at the school, but there will, however, be moderation by way of a sampling mechanism.

The minister said the ability test would not be curriculum-based and will be presented to students in the form of multiple-choice questions.

As for high-school placement, the education minister said there would be no changes in that respect. SMOOTH TRANSITION

Adamant that there must be a smooth transition into PEP, Reid disclosed that beginning September of this year, a change-management and communication team will be responsible for preparing primary-school teachers and administrators for PEP, while keeping the public informed on related matters.

The introduction of PEP coincides with the ending of the implementation of the national standards curriculum.

This financial year, the ministry has allocated $389 million for preparatory work and further training of teachers for PEP.