Assistant Chief Education Officer in the Student Assessment Unit of the Ministry of Education and Youth, Sephlin Myers-Thomas, has expressed confidence that there will be no delays in the distribution of results for the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) this year.

Mrs. Myers-Thomas said this week that the Ministry did notforesee any delay in the distribution process as the necessary structures have been implemented to ensure that both the schools and parents receive the results in a timely manner.

"The results will be out there in time. We're ahead of the game this year, all our processes are way ahead of our target timeline and we foresee no delays," she emphasised.

Mrs. Myers-Thomas was speaking against the background of the delay in the distribution of results last year, the major reason for which was the shortfall of some 3,800 places in Region Six.

More classroom spaces

In this regard, Mrs. Myers-Thomas pointed out that the Ministry had put a number of measures in place to ensure a smooth process this year, including the creation of more classroom spaces, particularly in the parishes of Clarendon and St. Catherine, which were most affected.

The schools that have benefited from additional classroom spaces include St. Jago High, Charlie Mount High and Jose Marti Technical High in St. Catherine; Bustamante High, Vere Technical High, Buelah, Green Park and Osbourne Store Primary and Junior High schools in Clarendon; Little London High in Westmoreland, Newell High in St. Elizabeth and St. Mary Technical High.

Other schools to benefit from expansion works include Central High and Glenmuir High schools in Clarendon, White Marl Primary and Junior High in St. Catherine, and Buff Bay High in Portland.

In addition, she said that the Ministry had procured the services of more markers - up from 110 last year to 160 this year to ensure that this process is completed within the stipulated time frame of one week.