SOME 52,804 students will, today, begin sitting the two-day annual Grade 4 Literacy Test, while 43,717 will sit the General Achievement in Numeracy (GAIN) islandwide.

The Ministry of Education said the literacy test consists of three components: word recognition, reading comprehension and writing task; while the numeracy test comprises five components: number operation and number representation combined, geometry and measurement combined, and algebra and statistics combined.

Chief Education Officer at the education ministry, Dr Grace McLean, said the materials have already been packaged and are currently being distributed to all educational regions and schools.

“At the regional levels, invigilators and presiding examiners have been recruited and trained. Assessment has been done for students who need special accommodation and specialists in the required fields have been assigned to help these students,” Dr McLean said.

She added that regional heads have been provided with additional materials to offset any occurrence of unregistered students in the examination centres.

Dr McLean informed that schools will not be closed on the days of the test, but school administrators will make the necessary arrangements to ensure that there is no disruption of the examinations.

“Education officers and other authorised personnel have been mobilised to monitor activities for the two days,” she added.

Dr McLean said the ministry needs to know the literacy and numeracy status of students so that appropriate intervention strategies can be put in place to help those who need it.

She noted that based on the Competency Based Transition Policy, students must attain mastery of Grade 4 Literacy and Numeracy to qualify to sit the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).