Vox pop on PEP cancellation

The Gleaner quizzed a number of citizens in downtown Kingston yesterday on whether they agreed with the Government deciding to use some grade four and grade five test results to determine secondary-school placement for grade six students.

Lascelles White

“It is a dis­advantage for some of the children. Those who never really reached up to standard may be disadvantaged. Some of them can make it because some of them very intelligent from before. Even some grade two students can go to high school and do better than one in grade six.”

Suzanne Tomlinson

“It’s a good job. Some kids do better from grade four. I am a mother doing PEP, so mi nuh have nuh problem.”

Jennifer McLean

“It good because some a di children, when dem inna grade four, dem know dem work, but when dem reach grade six, dem get kinda backward.”

Conroy Foster

“I think they should get a big open space, make sure there is social distance, and mek dem do dem test.”

Bilton Bryan

“There is a concept called proxy. They use it a lot in economics. When we can’t get what we want, we use the closest. The only way for them to still do it is online, but not all the students would be able to do it.”