Recent revelations regarding the Ministry of Education’s plan to stage the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) in about two months, have caused concern among parents and teachers.

Although many can appreciate the need to place students in an appropriate secondary institution, one hopes that the plan being devised effectively addresses a wide range of issues surrounding the assessment, many of which have been exacerbated by the current pandemic.

It is no secret that despite the challenges faced by many who lack the necessary resources, who overwhelmingly are in public schools, others, such as pupils enrolled in many private institutions, have accessed consistent daily instruction.

Beyond that, our delimiting placement practices must be restructured and a broad-based plan for the enhancement of secondary education, eliminating the sprawling differences across schools, must be rolled out.

We have an opportunity to re-imagine and improve our assessment processes and increase the life chances of every child passing through the system going forward, with strategic planning that eliminates the inequities and expands the scope for success in education.