Opposition spokesman disputes ministry Pep exam results as misleading comparison

Opposition spokesman on education Damian Crawford has criticised the Ministry of Education over how it reported results from the recently concluded Primary Exit Profile examinations, accusing officials of presenting an inaccurate picture of student achievement and secondary-school placement.

The ministry said pupils met or surpassed its 70 per cent target in three of four subject areas. It reported that 72 per cent scored proficient or highly proficient in language arts, literacy mastery stood at 79 per cent, numeracy at 75 per cent, and mathematics missed the benchmark by one percentage point.

Crawford argued that comparing this year's outcomes with prior results is flawed because the examination was changed following Melissa, leaving students to sit only one component. "The examination this year has changed because of Melissa and so to that extent they only had one component of the examination. To compare that to last year and claim that we have improved is a ridiculous comparison of oranges to apples because these children did not do the same exam last year nor did they do the exam that the last set of students did," he said.

He also noted that grade six students sat the literacy test for the first time this year, making ministry claims of improvement against last year's grade five cohort unreliable given separate literacy standards across grade levels.

On placement, the ministry reported that 90 per cent of students were assigned one of seven schools of choice and 9.5 per cent were placed by proximity. Crawford said the exam still determines who secures preferred schools first, and that most children cannot name seven institutions. He further accused the government of practising segregation in schools, citing its intervention at Ascot Primary over separating pupils in graduation gowns from those without, while contrasting that with daily separate lunch lines for children who cannot afford meals.

In other news, a trailer overturned in Pamford, St. Thomas, leaving the driver in critical condition after the vehicle plunged into a gully. Yallahs police are investigating. The Gloria Gale Institution has received a new perimeter fence through Community-Based Rehabilitation Jamaica to improve security for residents with disabilities.

John Campbell is appealing for public assistance after a rare spinal disease left him unable to walk or work. He says surgery he requires could cost between three and four million Jamaican dollars.