All schools to partake 2023 nat’l standardised test – MoE

Following the successful conduct of the 2021 National Standardised Test (NST), the Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Adutwum says all schools including private schools will participate in the 2023 edition of the national examination.

Addressing the media on educational matters, he said the move forms part of the government’s effort to provide an assessment targeted at measuring the proficiency of pupils at the basic level, especially in English and Mathematics.

Giving statistics of the maiden edition of the National Standardised Test, the Education Minister said a total of 390,000 primary four students from 14,883 public basic schools sat for the national examination across the country in 2021.

“After the test in Mathematics and English Language, primary four pupils in the Ahafo Region posted the highest mean scores of 67 per cent in English and 58 per cent in Mathematics

While those in the Bono Region posted 65 per cent in English and 55 per cent in Mathematics, with those in the Bono East Region scoring 58 per cent in English and 50 per cent in Mathematics,” Dr Osei Yaw Adutwum told journalists.

The first national examination to improve learning outcomes and reduce learning poverty was conducted on Friday, December 17, 2021, by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for only public basic four students in Ghana.

In an interview with Kumasi-based Sompa 93.1 FM ‘Ade Akye Abia’ show monitored by AcademicWeek, the Education Minister said the standardised test results portal currently under development is ongoing to be live once completed.

“A website or portal to host the national standardised test results for parents of the students who participated in the test is currently under development. When completed parents can print their ward’s results online,” he stated.

The national test to evaluate the primary students on whether they can read or not, the Bosomtwe Member of Parliament say will help the government to see the challenges that are confronting the country’s education sector.

“So after the conduct of the national standardised test by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), we expect over 90% of primary students in the country to be proficient in English,” the Minister in charge of Education noted.