Latest update March 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 27, 2014 News
The Ministry of Education (MOE) has officially scrapped its old Automatic Promotion policy of students in public schools across Guyana. It is now urging all schools nationwide to comply with the changes that were made following extensive consultations. The policy, which received numerous criticisms from a wide cross-section of the population, was revised some time last year.
The Ministry of Education has now formally informed schools across Guyana of the changes in the policy and that students who do not make 50 per cent or more in their examinations will have to repeat that class or grade.
The Automatic Promotion Policy was initially introduced under the tenure of former Minister of Education, Shaik Baksh, to correct the negative effects of Grade Repetition.
However, last July, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, said that the policy will now require that students who score below the overall pass mark set by the school, in more than 50 per cent of the subjects being undertaken, repeat the grade.
Also, if students achieve less than the overall pass mark set by the school, with the scores for the subject areas of Mathematics and English being unacceptable, they will be asked to repeat the grade.
And in a circular from the Chief Education Officer (CEO), to all head teachers, Principals, Senior Education Officers, Deputy and Assistant Chief Executive Officers, Coordinators and Directors of Education Projects and all teachers, the Ministry stated that consultations on the policy saw the submission of reports from across the country.
It added, “The Ministry was faced with the unenviable task of crafting a policy that marries the sound thinking behind the decision not to have students repeat subjects they have mastered with the necessity of making sure students master subjects that are essential for matriculation.”
The circular added that the policy as of January 6, 2014 will be that if a student scores below the overall pass mark set by the school in more than 50 per cent of the subjects the student is taking, then that student will be asked to repeat that grade.
If the student achieves less than the overall pass mark set by the school and the reason for the under-achievement is either Mathematics or English Language, the student will also be asked to repeat.
The aim of this approach, the Ministry circular states, is to help students to succeed in English Language and Mathematics. “A student needs at least five CSEC subjects, at one sitting, including English A and Mathematics at Grades 1 to 3 to matriculate. The statistics show that many schools attain 100 per cent pass in many CSEC subjects, however, the matriculation rate is not satisfactory because of the poor pass rates in English and Mathematics.
“A student who masters English and Mathematics can thereof choose any other three subjects based on his or her preference.”
The Ministry states, too, that if the reason the student failed to attain the overall pass mark is as a result of any other subject, “that student will not be asked to repeat the grade but must drop the subject.”
The circular went on to say that all students will be instructed in a manner that would make it more likely for them to achieve passing grades.
“Specific regard should be given to factors such as performance level of the school; the delivery of the curriculum, and the setting of compliance with timetables, etc.”
The new policy, it added, was written and coined based on the contributions of parents, teachers and students received through nationwide consultations held especially for this purpose. The Ministry is also urging all schools to let their Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) be aware of the circular, “which is crucial to its functioning” and to make them affix their signatures to the document.
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