Petrina Francis, Education ReporterSTUDENTS ARE generally prepared for the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) scheduled for March 17-18, based on Gleaner checks with schools. But, educators say the traditional weakness in language arts and mathematics continues.
"Overall, I think my students are prepared for the task they have to do", said Jacqueline Colley, grade six teacher at the Rollington Town Primary School in Kingston. Mrs. Colley said that while some students are weak in some subjects, "we are working on it."
She said that emphasis is now being placed on preparing the students mentally for the examinations in order to ensure that they are not nervous.
Jean Carr, grade six teacher at the Clan Carty Primary School, told The Gleaner last Friday that her students are ready to sit the examinations but she has found that some of them have weaknesses in language arts. She said, "They are really not expressing themselves (well) at all."
This was confirmed by one of her students, Steve Robinson, who said that although he is ready to tackle the examinations, he is weak in language arts. The 11-year-old said he writes essays to improve his language skills and goes to Saturday and evening classes to improve his chances of succeeding.
"You can never say that they are 100 per cent prepared but for the most part, they are ready", said June Clarke, another grade six teacher at Clan Carty Primary School. Ms. Clarke said that there is some weakness in her students' writing skills.
Eleven-year-old Cherise Adams of Clan Carty Primary said she is not fully ready to take the examinations. She told The Gleaner that she is having a problem with some of the topics in mathematics but she will be ready by March 17.
"We spend most time on the language arts and certain maths problems," said Everton Jones, principal of the Denham Town Primary School.
His students have been prepared, "as best as we can," he said. "Students started preparing for the exams during the summer holidays and have been under exam conditions since the beginning of March. So we can work on the areas of weaknesses."
