VIDEO: National Diagnostic Test

The Ministry of Education will be conducting a national diagnostic assessment to determine the level of “learning loss” by some students during the COVID-19 years.

In a video message late Tuesday night, Minister of Education Kay McConney said the test would assess literacy, numeracy and social and emotional learning.

It is to be administered to Second, Third and Fourth Form students in Barbados next week. Some parents have already received correspondence indicating the test would be conducted on Thursday, but that is no longer the case.

“The results of these assessments will be used to further develop intervention strategies tailored to the students’ needs, and these strategies will help to improve the effectiveness of instruction and enhance the student learning and behavioural outcomes,” McConney said.

Parents and guardians are invited to a Zoom/YouTube meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the following:

• The rationale for the test;
• The content;
• Administration of the test;
• Data collection, analysis and protection;
• The way forward.

Invitations to the meeting will be sent via the usual channels of communication with the schools/Ministry. (SAT)