No pupil will repeat a class because of NST results – Deputy Education Minister

No pupil will be required to repeat a class because of their performance in the National Standardized Test (NST), Deputy Minister for Education Dr. Clement Abas Apaak has announced.

Dr. Apaak gave the assurance while interacting with Primary Four pupils at Nahadatu Islamic Basic School at Ofaakor in the Central Region during a monitoring visit to the nationwide assessment.

Basic Schools the Deputy Minister visited include St. Mary’s Anglican Cluster of Schools in Akwale, Nahadatu Islamic Basic School in Ofaakor, and Ofaakor Municipal Assembly Basic School, all in the Central Region.

He was welcomed in Awutu Senya East in the Central Region by the District Education Director, Frank Etrue-Hayford, and his leadership, as well as the respective heads of the Basic Schools.

Addressing the pupils, the Deputy Minister explained that the purpose of the NST was to identify learners who require additional academic support rather than punish them for poor performance.

“Unlike the past, we are not going to say you should be repeated. Your teacher will identify those of you who need additional help and then that additional help will be offered to you so that you will reach the level that has been set for Primary Four in terms of your curriculum,” he said.

He noted that the results of the assessment would enable teachers, the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education to better understand pupils’ learning needs and design appropriate interventions.

“At the end of the day, what you are writing will be used to determine whether you are all okay or some of you need additional help,” he stated.

According to Dr. Apaak, the assessment is intended to strengthen teaching and learning by providing reliable information on pupils’ progress against the expected standards for Primary Four.

“This exam is not about pass or fail. It is to help your teacher, to help us at GES and the ministry understand how well you are doing in terms of the expectations for your standard Primary Four,” he explained.

He encouraged the pupils to approach the examination with confidence, assuring them that they had been adequately prepared by their teachers.

“Don’t panic, take your time and answer the questions. I know your class teacher has prepared you well so you understand what to do,” he said.

The Deputy Minister further urged the pupils to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, expressing optimism that they would contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s future development through quality education.

He later visited Akwale St. Mary’s Anglican Cluster of Schools.

The National Standardised Test (NST) in Ghana is a nationwide educational assessment administered by the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service (GES), and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA).

It measures foundational skills in literacy (English) and numeracy (Mathematics) to track student performance and identify learning gaps early.