Grade Assessment Schedules Revised

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Education

Friday, 08 February 2013 02:29

By caribarena news

Antigua St. John's - Concerns over the results of the 2012 Grade 4 assessment have prompted the Ministry of Education to revise, among other things, the timeline between which students complete one grade and enter another, and when they are allowed to take the assessment.

Head of the Measurement and Evaluation Unit within the Ministry, Patricia Collins, told Caribarena that unlike previous years where grade two and four students would take the assessment the October after completing these grades. This means the exam is taken in grades 3 and 5. Beginning this year, they would take the exam at the end of the final term in the earlier grade.

Collins was at the time responding to probing from this publication into reports that the results from last year’s Grade 4 assessment saw 80 percent of students failing.

Caribarena first took the matter to acting Education Minister Winston Williams, who referred it to the desk of Education Director Jacinta Pringle.

But Pringle also opted out, and referred the queries further down the chain to Collins.

“Mrs Collins deals with the administration of schools in Antigua and Barbuda. She would be better able to answer your questions,” Pringle said.

Collins said initially that she was unable to confirm or deny the figures.

“I don’t have the figures in front of me and I can’t access them now since I have an education function to attend…” she said. “I don’t want to say very much. (But) I don’t know of there being any flaws. There is an issue with the timing. (So) it will be done at the end of the academic year beginning this year in June.”

She hoped that the change in schedule would have an affect on the grades attained.

“Things that you are supposed to have mastered in grades two and four, if you can’t do them in the next grade, then that’s a concern,” Collins said.

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