KINGSTON, Jamaica— The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information (MOEYI) says it continues to work with schools administrators for the implementation of the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) with the registration of students now underway.

The ministry said forms have been issued to schools for parents and students to indicate the schools of their choice for entry to the secondary level next academic year.

“The ministry is also using reports on individual student’s performance in the National Pilot Performance Task Exams administered in June to further inform its preparations for the full roll out of the PEP. Areas for additional focus and support are determined by the individual student’s reports and will be used to further enhance the preparation of students for the PEP.”

The ministry, in a statement today, said the National Pilot Performance Task enabled it to test its overall readiness to administer the PEP and equally important, provided meaningful simulation to students ahead of the actual commencement of PEP.

Of particular note, is the fact the Performance Task exposed the students to the newest item type which will form part of their profile at Grade 6, it said.

According to the education ministry, the report shows that the development of critical thinking skills is an area that requires focused attention and continued support. The individual student’s performance reports will now be utilised to determine how questions comprising the Performance Task which will be administered in December are developed and framed.

Stakeholders should note that the upcoming Performance Task will be based on areas covered in Grade 6 up to the point of the assessment, the ministry added.

“Teachers have indicated that having gone through the Performance Task they now have a better understanding of what is expected and are in a position to provide greater support in respect of the administration and completion of the assessment.”

The ministry said its mechanism responded effectively to the administration of the Mock Performance Task and was able to finalise assessment results within an eight-week period.

“This had to be done alongside the completion of the GSAT results, in addition to the administration of five (5) other examinations. The ministry was able to pilot regional marking as against centralized marking as well as capture results electronically. Based on the conduct of the National Pilot Performance Task, the Ministry is confident that its preparations will culminate in a successful implementation of the PEP,” the ministry said.