Approximately 44,000 primary school students will today sit their first set of exams in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).
The exam is being held over two days.

We wish all who have studied diligently, and their supportive teachers and families, every success in meeting your goals for higher learning and productive lives.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=36058


Observer Editorial: Our children deserve better than GSAT's stress
I love to learn, but now learning feels like a chore. GSAT is the focus. I eat, sleep and breathe GSAT. It has the power to make us winners or losers. I want to be a winner. We are constantly under pressure to do better because no one wants to go to an all-age school... We have headaches, stomach cramps and bellyaches. We find it difficult to sleep. We are anxious, cry easily, break down when our grades are not in the 90s, and we get irritable. Some children cannot keep up with the pace... Some children do not bother to try anymore..."
(Roshaun Robinson-11-year-old grade six student)

Truth is, adult Jamaicans have known about this unreasonable pressure for a very long time. Many of us experienced it as children.
We have even heard of horrible situations involving suicide. Experts tell us that children who have been through such pressure could end up suffering "burnout" and a loss of interest in academics in later life.

Ironically, that unreasonable pressure was among the main reasons the GSAT was introduced to replace the Common Entrance Examination.

It's well established that part of the reason for the pressure on students is the "big school" mentality, with parents and teachers pushing for the 90-plus per cent marks that will get their charges into the most-respected 'traditional' high schools.

LINK:
www.jamaicaobserver.com/editorial/Our-children-deserve-better-than-GSAT-s-stress _11057302

Jubilation-Freedom-Relief-High Hopes: Students Celebrate GSAT End

...The children had good reason to cheer, having wrote the final papers of the rigorous 2012 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), which will be used to place them in secondary schools in September.

At the end of the test yesterday, Grace McLean, acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, said she was pleased with the level of preparation for the test..."We have received a number of complaints; the review process continues and we are confident that at the end there will be some improvements."

She also called on parents to give their support to schools where their students are placed as assessments have shown that non-traditional high schools were improving in their performances.

The GSAT assesses students in five areas --mathematics, language arts, social studies, integrated science, and communication task.

Prior to sitting to the test, each student is allowed to pick the five secondary schools they desire to attend. However, in many cases students are not placed in any of the desired schools, which often results in distress for both the students and their parents.

Observer LINK:
www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Freedom_11108861

You will very soon Beth, especially if you keep coenintmmg like you do. I am very pleased with you. As for showing work on here, I think you must be reading my mind because I was thinking of doing that with someone's work next week. I wonder if it will be your work?