National standardised exam has improved students’ literacy – MoE

Introduced in the 2021 academic year, the Deputy Minister of Education, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour says the National Standardised Test (NST) has helped improve the literacy and numeracy skills of students in the country.

The Education Minister in Charge of General Education speaking to journalists said the primary national examination had tremendously improved learners’ ability to read from two per cent to 38 per cent in primary two in 2015. 

He said this during his visit to the Flagstaff House Basic School and 37 Military Basic School in Accra to monitor the 2024 edition of the National Standardised examination conducted for a total of 54,746 pupils in primary four and six.

“The Ministry’s strategic plan is to ensure that at least 90 per cent  of our learners at the age of 10 across the country should be able to read and understand,” the Deputy Minister in Charge of Education told the media.

Rev Fordjour said the outcome of the 2023 test revealed that 54 per cent of primary school pupils could read, which was contrary to the projection made by the World Bank that in Africa, only one in 10 children will be able to read.

The assessment examination, the Minister for Education explained is not meant to grade or promote the primary four public school students but to improve teaching and learning in the government basic schools across the country.

The 2024 edition of the National Standardised Test administered by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) was conducted for primary 4 and 6 students in all basic schools across the country from July 23, 2024, to July 24, 2024.

Students were evaluated in English Language and Mathematics for a comprehensive assessment of the educational standards and learning outcomes of these core subjects.

Ahead of the examination, teachers were encouraged to adequately prepare their students towards English Language and Mathematics to enable them to perform outstandingly in this year’s National Standardised Test (NST).

To ensure the smooth conduct of the nationwide examination, the Ghana Education Service (GES) provided test materials, invigilators, and any other resources required to make the national examination effective. 

The Reverend Minister’s comment comes after Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum in 2021 said about 90 per cent of primary students after the national standardised examinations will be proficient in the English Language.

Adutwum made the remarks while speaking at the 2021 and 4th edition of the National Education Week Program under the theme “Reimagining education for national Transformation monitored by Pretertiary.com on Tuesday.

“So after the conduct of the 2021 test by the WAEC, we expect over 90% of primary four students in the country to be proficient in English, We expect 90% to move on to high school, 90% to move on to university” Dr Adutwum stated.

The national standardised examination, the Minister for Education said is to drastically reduce learning poverty he disclosed has increased among prospective students in the country amid the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The test is to evaluate the primary 4 students on whether they can read or not and this will also help the government to see the challenges that are confronting the country’s education sector,” the Minister told stakeholders at the event.

Commenting on how the results of the NST will be published he said “We have a dashboard coming that will allow the Education Minister to log in and see the attendance of every district, to see how every district is doing and the results will be on the dashboard.”