Why Education Ministry is implementing compulsory tests for primary students

The Ministry of Education has announced a National Standardised Test for pupils at the primary school level in the country.

The test is to assess the reading and writing abilities of children to improve learning outcomes.

The ministry is concerned about addressing literacy among children before they reach Junior High School (JHS), where they would be required to take the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

“The World Bank talks about learning poverty. They say 53% of students in their 10th year of various countries cannot read for understanding, and Ghana is not an exception,” Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, explained.

“That is why the President says we need to transform the space, and transformation of the space means that all fourth graders this year are going to be tested across the lengths and breadths of this country.

He spoke on the topic: “President Akufo-Addo’s Education Agenda: Four years and Beyond”.

On Sunday, June 6, he said that “every one of them [would sit for this exams] so that we see the challenges that are confronting us as a nation, then we give them one year when they are in primary five to make the necessary interventions”.

He cited Singapore and other countries where national standardised tests have been successful hence the introduction in Ghana.

He revealed plans of technology expansion in schools apart of Ghana’s digital transformation agenda.

He, therefore, encouraged members of the public to accept the changes meant to improve the quality of education given to children.