IN JAMAICA: GSAT first day marked by usual nervousness as more than 40,000 students completed first day of exams.... "There was one incident where a parent actually cried while dropping off her child," at Alpha Primary in downtown Kingston.

BY KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com  Friday, March 21, 2014    

It has become the norm on GSAT day; nervous students and even more nervous parents.

They will again experience the anxiety today — the second of the two-day examinations — after which they will relax, then relapse into fretfulness in another three months when the results are released.

These Montego Bay Prep School students
appear to be in a good mood survey rated
 Montego Bay Prep as one of the top
15 GSAT schools.

More than 40,000 primary and prep school students yesterday completed the first papers in the dreaded GSAT (Grade Six Achievement Test) for placement in secondary schools this September.

"I was very nervous for my child, but I am confident that she will do well," said Angela Williams, who was at Dunrobin Primary School in Kingston to give her support to her child.

"There was one incident where a parent actually cried while dropping off her child," said Herman Grace, who waited at the gate at Alpha Primary in downtown Kingston to pick up his son after he completed his exam.

Merlene Williams was a picture of confidence as she, too, awaited her daughter at Alpha. "We are very much encouraged by the level of support we have seen from parents, and based on observation it appears the support continues to grow," said Alpha Principal Millicent Graham. more