No National Assessment Test in 2017

The decision not to conduct the NAT next year was announced by Chief Education Officer (CEO) in the Ministry of Education (MoE), Harrilal Seecharan, during a press conference yesterday about the recommendations coming out of the Education Ministry’s February 2016 National Consultation on Education.

“There were issues raised with respect to our NAT and the concern about the use of the test for ‘high stakes’ purposes; influencing the way teaching and learning was taking place. With respect to the National Test, we have taken the decision in the ministry to not go ahead with the NAT in 2017.” “What we are currently doing is reviewing the NAT, to place greater emphasis on assessment for learning - it no longer will have that role of comparing schools and students.

We’reg going to focus on using the data to improve teaching and learning.” At the ministry’s head office, St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain, Seecharan said “Cabinet has noted the report on the consultation and requested that we go ahead in preparing a White Paper which will be laid before Parliament.” Asked by Newsday what was the deadline by which to do so, Education Minister Anthony Garcia, said “Cabinet has given the MoE three months to complete its work where this is concerned.” To be exact, the MoE has until the end of March 2017 to lay its White Paper in Parliament.