The Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, has assured parents, teachers and pupils that the National Standardised Test (NST) is not designed to determine whether children pass or fail, but rather to identify learning gaps and improve teaching and learning outcomes.
Speaking during a monitoring tour of the National Standardised Test at Nahadatu Islamic Basic School at Kasoa Ofaakor in the Central Region, Dr. Apaak explained that the assessment was intended to provide education authorities with reliable data to strengthen classroom instruction and offer targeted support to pupils who may be struggling.
Addressing Primary Four pupils before the examination, he urged them to remain calm and approach the test with confidence.
“This exam is not about pass or fail. It is to help your teacher, to help us at GES and the ministry understand how well you are doing in terms of the expectations for your standard Primary Four,” he said.
According to the Deputy Minister, the results of the nationwide assessment would enable the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education to identify pupils requiring additional academic support and implement interventions to improve learning outcomes.
“At the end of the day, what you are writing will be used to determine whether you are all okay or some of you need additional help,” he stated.
Dr. Apaak, who doubles as Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South, stressed that pupils identified as needing extra assistance would not be made to repeat their class, but would instead receive the necessary academic support to attain the expected learning standards.
“Unlike the past, we are not going to say you should be repeated. Your teacher will identify those of you who need additional help, and then that additional help will be offered to you so that you will reach the level that has been set for Primary Four in terms of your curriculum,” he explained.
He further encouraged the pupils to avoid anxiety during the examination, assuring them that they had been adequately prepared by their teachers.
“Don’t panic, take your time and answer the questions. I know your class teacher has prepared you well so you understand what to do,” he said.
The Deputy Minister also challenged the pupils to cultivate critical thinking and problem-solving skills, expressing confidence that the younger generation would play a pivotal role in Ghana’s future development.
As part of the nationwide monitoring exercise, Dr. Apaak also visited St. Mary’s Anglican Cluster of Schools at Akwale and Ofaakor Municipal Assembly Basic School in the Awutu Senya East Municipality of the Central Region.
He was received by the Awutu Senya East Municipal Director of Education, Frank Etrue-Hayford, together with his management team and the heads of the various basic schools.
The National Standardised Test is a nationwide assessment conducted by the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA).
The examination measures pupils’ foundational competencies in English Language and Mathematics to track learning progress and identify gaps for early intervention.
This year’s assessment is being administered to pupils in Kindergarten Two (KG2), Primary Two (P2), Primary Four (P4) and Primary Six (P6).
