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Dr. Faithlyn Wilson, President of the Jamaica Independent Schools Association (JISA) and Tamar McKenzie, Public Relations Officer for JISA
The Ministry of Education is facing more criticism about its decision to cancel the Grade Nine Achievement Test (GNAT).
Dr. Faithlyn Wilson, President of the Jamaica Independent Schools Association (JISA), said private high schools want information on the process taken to arrive at the decision.
Dr. Wilson lamented that there has been no formal communication from the Ministry of Education on the matter, noting that "many times we are hearing of these decisions in the media" and in these instances, JISA is "constantly taken by surprise."
She added that the lack of communication from the ministry goes further in that "even after an announcement is made in the media, there is this lag before we can get an explanation, and many times it's after we demand it."
Tamar McKenzie, Public Relations Officer for the Jamaica Independent Schools Association, wants the Education Minister to release the data used for the cancellation of the Grade Nine Achievement Test.
She said while the ministry has said it is being guided in its decisions by psychometricians, the engagement from these professionals should be increased and their assessments made accessible so that there can be buy-in from schools and stakeholders.
Dr. Wilson said about twenty private high schools are members of JISA.
Some of the students would have done the Grade Nine Achievement Test with the expectation of being placed at a public high school.
Last week, the Ministry of Education announced that registered students will be placed in schools that are close to their homes.
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