Final push to get PEP students high school-ready

Jamaica's Ministry of Education is implementing an intensive summer program to ensure that a significant majority of students who fell short of mastery scores in their Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations are prepared for high school. The ministry anticipates that at least 80% of the 1,341 students enrolled in this special numeracy and literacy initiative will achieve the required benchmark before commencing secondary education in September.

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Right now, as indicated by our minister, the plan is for us to have a majority of our students, if not all, go to high school literate.

Following the release of PEP results in June, it was reported that 75% of the 31,677 students achieved mastery in numeracy, while 79% demonstrated mastery in literacy. Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon, the portfolio minister, had previously stated the ministry's commitment to identifying and supporting students who performed at near-mastery and non-mastery levels.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Kasan Troupe, explained that these students are currently engaged in a three-week, government-funded program designed to address their specific weak areas. The program concludes at the end of July, after which their competency levels will be reassessed. Dr. Troupe emphasized the goal of ensuring that "a majority of our students, if not all, go to high school literate."

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We saw a 10 per cent improvement in the level of mastery for literacy this year. The same students who we assessed this year, when they got their mastery scores in grade four it was 69 per cent, and this year it is 79 per cent, and we identified some students who are on the cusp.

Dr. Troupe highlighted a positive trend, noting a 10% improvement in literacy mastery scores compared to previous assessments. Students who scored 69% in grade four literacy assessments saw their scores rise to 79% this year. The current intensive initiative aims to bridge the remaining gap for those identified as being "on the cusp" of achieving mastery. The program utilizes literacy software and licenses, alongside targeted instruction, to support students in their learning journey.

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So, the thrust now is to run them through an intensive literacy and numeracy initiative.