No need to fear PEP

Officials from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information fielded questions related to the implementation and assessment of the Primary Exit Profile (PEP), which will replace the Grade Six Achievement Test, during an Editors’ Forum held yesterday at The Gleaner’s North Street offices.

They were asked:

Why should teachers and students not be afraid of the Primary Exit Profile? DR GRACE MCLEAN, CHIEF EDUCATION OFFICER

“Parents, please be assured that this Primary Exit Profile is the best approach to prepare our students to take their rightful place in this society.”

TERRY-ANN THOMAS GAYLE, MANAGER, STUDENT ASSESSMENT UNIT

“I want to assure parents, teachers, principals and all our stakeholders that at the Ministry of Education,

Youth and Information, we’re committed to the hand-holding that is required.”

MARYAH HO YOUNG, SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

“In developing the test, we want everyone to know that we are ensuring fairness for every child who will sit this assessment. The type of questions that we will ask in the assessment will be age and stage appropriate.”

DR CLOVER HAMILTONFLOWERS, ASSISTANT CHIEF EDUCATION OFFICER, CORE CURRICULUM UNIT

“The success of the assessment depends a whole lot on the implementation of the curriculum and implementation of the curriculum is everybody’s business. We can all play a part in that process by providing rich experiences for our children.”