New exam dates for west Kingston children

STUDENTS OF west Kingston schools who are to sit Grades Three and Four exams could have additional time to prepare.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Audrey Sewell, has said there is a proposal on the table to reschedule the Grade Four Literacy and Numeracy Test for these students to December, and the Grade Three Diagnostic Test for the end of August.

Sewell said the date for the exams would be finalised by Monday.

"We were hoping that having had the primary school teachers in sessions we could have discussed it with them, but it wasn't possible, based on what transpired at the counselling session, so we are waiting until Monday," the permanent secretary said.

Grade Four students across the island are scheduled to sit the national literacy and numeracy tests on June 29, while Grade Three students are to do diagnostic tests on June 15 and 16.

The preparation of students in some west Kingston communities was disrupted last week following a deadly clash between gunmen and members of the security forces.

The Ministry of Education was forced to close some schools.