KINGSTON, Jamaica — State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Floyd Green, says the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) will assist in fostering entrepreneurship among young persons.

He contended that “it will cultivate more independent thinkers”, citing this as a “critical need” in business.

The state minister was speaking during the recent LearnFest symposium at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

PEP replaces the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) as the national secondary school entrance examination.

It is intended to provide a better and more complete profile of students’ academic and critical-thinking capabilities at the end of primary-level education, through a Performance Task, Ability, and Curriculum-based tests.

Green pointed out that the Ability Test will tap into students’ problem-solving competencies. “It is a change that puts the student at the centre of learning and understands we… [as] individuals, learn differently… . Creativity and practicality have to be central,” he further stated.

The Ability Test is scheduled for February 26, while the Performance Task Test will be done on March 27 and 28, with the Curriculum-based Test slated for April 16 and 17.

LearnFest Caribbean 2019 was held under the theme ‘Level up and Set Yourself Apart’.

It sought to provide project managers and other professionals with the knowledge and inspiration to take action to develop themselves and their organisations in new ways.

— JIS