App launched to help Grade Six students prepare for exams

Ahead of this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), the Education Ministry has partnered with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Guyana to launch an online application, or APP, which help candidates review past exam papers.

The NGSA APP was launched at the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) on Monday, February 12, 2018. The APP is called N.G.S.A Practice Exams and is available for download on Android devices using Google Playstore.

The APP also helps the Ministry to administer more exam papers in the four subject areas – English, Science, Mathematics and Social Studies – at a reduced cost.

Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson said the initiative comes at a time when the Ministry is looking at ways to constantly improve education delivery across the country.

“If education is going to move forward, it is critical, it is fundamental that we build partnerships with different stakeholders to move the process forward,” he said.

Expressing gratitude to the Ministry for funding the project, Karen Abrams, the Co-Founder of STEM Guyana, pointed to the need to produce students who can adapt to evolving technologies. She noted that with robots set to replace millions of jobs in the future, the aim is to produce students who will be innovative thinkers.

She said: “We can’t entirely predict what the world will look like; however, we can equip our children to be as prepared as possible for any version of the future world, to be resilient lifelong learners who approach the world with curiosity, who can think independently and originally.”

Also addressing the gathering was First Lady Sandra Granger. She disclosed that the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company will come onboard to ensure that the APP is afforded to students in other regions.

However, the First Lady urged that Digicel Guyana is approached to ensure maximum coverage.

“We can also look at Ministry websites that we might be able to piggyback on…so our kids everywhere, in every corner of this country…must have the equal opportunity to learn and to grow and develop in STEM like the other children,” the First Lady stated.

The gathering was given a demonstration of the App by Director of STEM Guyana, Collin Sawh, who explained that teachers using their login can monitor their students’ progress. Parents can also have the opportunity to view their children’s performance.

The 2018 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) will be written on March 28 and 29.