Grade Four pupils will soon be required to pass a literacy test and obtain a literacy certificate before they can proceed to write the National Grade Six Assessment examination.

According to a Govern-ment Information Agency (GINA) release, Minister of Education Shaik Baksh made this disclosure yesterday at the opening of a training session at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).

According to the minister this system is not new in the Caribbean as Jamaica has a similar model. A team from Guyana visited that country to examine the model and it was agreed that Guyana would adapt a similar system. Country-wide consultations on the new initiative are expected to be held shortly.

“Children must pass the literacy test and must obtain a literacy certificate before they can proceed to write the Grade Six Assessment, and if they fail it they will have to rewrite it six months after and every six months until they pass,” Baksh was quoted as saying.

He noted that community high schools have been converted into secondary schools and a six-year programme will be introduced.
“The first year will be used to upgrade all of the children who have not reached a certain level, if you fall below a certain score you will have to go to a six-year programme… We will work with those children to ensure that at the end of the year, they will be literate and numerate,” said the minister.

According to the release, the minister stated that later this year the government will introduce a programme aimed at the continuous professional development of teachers. The programme would be structured and the ministry already has a policy document and is awaiting funding.

The release said that during vacations teachers will be able to attend a number of continuous professional development programmes, for which they would be credited. Teachers can gain accelerated promotion based on their grading. The minister said the ministry is also reviewing the possibility of remuneration for those attain a certain number of credits.

“We need to have our teachers on board and continuously work with them to improve their skills and all the other aspects important to teacher education,” the minister said.