More than 100,000 students sit Grade Four Literacy, Numeracy tests
THE RUEL Reid-led Ministry of Education, Youth and Information has announced that the final Grade Four Literacy and Numeracy examinations in their current form will be administered today, Wednesday, June 20 and on Thursday, June 21.
A total of 104,209 students are registered to sit the exams – 48,887 (literacy) and 55,322 (numeracy). Of that number, 16,494 are repeaters for the literacy exam and 8,898 for numeracy. Students will sit the literacy exam in 1,568 centres and the numeracy exams in 1,769.
The education ministry said that training of presiding examiners and invigilators by the regions has been completed and monitors have been recruited and trained to give support to the ministry’s core personnel who will be engaged in monitoring the administration of the exams.
SPECIAL-NEEDS STUDENTS
The ministry said that it has received application to facilitate some 322 special-needs students to sit the examination.
“Special accommodations are being provided for these students, including the provision of a reader, writer, prompter,
shadow, extra time, large print and Braille. Eleven interpreters for students who speak the following native languages have been provided: Russian, Dutch, Mandarin, Spanish, French, and Chinese,” the ministry stated.
In addition, four students have been reported as being hospitalised. Accommodations will be provided for these students to do their examinations in a comfortable space within the hospital. The hospitals have been
notified and an invigilator will be provided.
The education ministry reminds parents and students of the following:
1. On the mornings of the
literacy and numeracy examinations, parents must ensure that their children are provided with a warm and filling breakfast. All students should get sufficient rest the nights before both examinations. 2. Students should be reminded to listen to the instruction of the presiding examiners and act accordingly.
3. They should also be encouraged to be careful in representing their answers on the bubble sheets provided for Part A and Part B on the literacy test and Paper 1 for the numeracy test, as such mistakes can cause students to lose marks. 4. Students should also be encouraged to answer ALL questions on the examination, as well as manage their time effectively.