Programme advises students on P.S.E. exam
Over five thousand primary school students countrywide are preparing to sit the Primary School Examination, P.S.E., on May seventh. The Ministry of Education found it necessary to embark on a public information campaign to better prepare students, teachers and parents for the exam, which has replaced the twenty year old B.N.S.E. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Dorian Barrow, says the P.S.E. shows a student’s competence in three subject areas.
Ann-Marie Williams
“The information piece will be done in all three areas: English, Mathematics, and Science. Why should students, teachers and parents watch these programmes?”
Dr. Dorian Barrow, P.S., Ministry of Education
“Well that is also one difference between the P.S.E. and the B.N.S.E. The B.N.S.E. used to test in four subject areas including Social Studies. The P.S.E. is testing only in three areas: English, Mathematics and Science. What the information piece does is to explain in detail what are the expectations of these students on the exam. It goes into considerable detail in terms of the table of specifications, what will be tested, how it will be tested and particularly in areas like Mathematics, where the emphasis now is on problem solving.”
“It should help the students in terms of their reflecting on what they’re currently being taught and what is expected. It should assist the teachers in more adequately preparing the students for these exams and probably most importantly it will provide information to the parents who need to be an important partner in the preparation of their kids for this very, very important national exam.”
“We though that the timing was critical. We wanted to do it as close as possible to the students taking the exam and still giving them enough time to make adjustments.”
“This is a wonderful opportunity for parents to sit with their Standard VI children and even the other children who are in primary school and might be preparing for this exam in the future to get a good grounding, a good understanding of what this new exam is all about and ways in which they can help these kids in achieving their potential.”
Tonight’s programme, which airs immediately following this newscast, offers general information on why the ministry decided to change the B.N.S.E. to the P.S.E. and what the P.S.E. measures. On Wednesday night a segment on English papers one and two will be shown. Both programmes will repeat on Sunday at eleven.
