A new accountability system is on the way for Guyana’s education sector, which would see schools themselves receiving report cards, not just students.
Minister of Education Sonia Parag made the announcement during her appearance on the Starting Point Podcast, revealing that the initiative will evaluate schools based on performance, teacher attendance, curriculum delivery, and student outcomes.
“It’s going to be the first time that schools will receive report cards,” Minister Parag said. “We have to ensure that schools perform. I can’t be sitting at the helm of this sector, and we are lagging.”
She explained that the move aims to push continuous improvement and create healthy competition among schools.
“When we base it on performance, another school might say, ‘this one is doing well, I’m going to get to that point.’ It’s an incentive, an encouragement to improve,” the Minister noted.
According to Parag, the initiative will classify schools into A-list, B-list, and national schools, and measure their effectiveness in delivering quality education. Factors like teacher engagement, curriculum implementation, and student placement from the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) will be considered.
She stressed that with investments in infrastructure, resources, and teacher training, accountability must follow.
“There should be no excuse why someone can’t develop. We’re providing the tools, the training, the resources, now it’s time to measure results,” Parag added.
The first set of school report cards is expected to be developed by the time the next NGSA cycle is completed.
