Catalogue de données central

The Primary School Examination (PSR) is administered annually by the Ministry of Education to grade 6 (ISCED 1) students in public and private schools. Formerly called Primary Certificate of Education (PCE), the examination was renamed in 2002. The PSR targets students enrolled in non-religious schools. Students enrolled in Madrasahs or Islamic schools take the Certificate of Primary Religious Schools (SSSRU). See separate Catalogue entry for SSSRU.

The PSR is a high-stake and mandatory examination that certifies completion of primary education. It is a requirement for students wishing to pursue lower-secondary education (ISCED 2). However, the PSR is not mandatory for students with special needs.

Passing the PSR allows reintegration of out-of-school children and youth into the school system at the next appropriate grade. Out-of-school children and youth wishing to take this examination must attend a special education programme.

The PSR is a written examination, administered face-to-face and delivered through paper-pencil tests. All test-takers are presented with the same cognitive booklets or tests, which are aligned with the national curriculum.

The PSR serves the following purposes:

- student certification for completion of primary education

- student selection to higher education programmes or admission into specific courses or tracks

- school or educator accountability

- sub-national level monitoring of learning outcomes

- monitoring education quality levels

- planning education policy reforms

The PSR accommodates students with special needs, by providing the following arrangements:

- Autism: use of prompters

- Hearing impairment: preferential seats, simplified instructions, supervised rest breaks, use of computers

- Visual impairment: test materials in braille or with larger font, additional time, use of separate rooms, supervised rest breaks, readers, scribe or assistant support

- Physical disability: additional time, use of separate rooms, supervised rest breaks, scribe support

- Emotional disturbance: additional time, use of separate rooms, supervised rest breaks, use of prompters, reader and scribe support, use of computers

- Language impairment: additional time, supervised rest breaks, scribe support, use of computers

- Environmental effect: examination in a different venue

Census (all students at the given grades or ages)

Results are reported at the student, school, sub-national and national levels. Data are disaggregated by sex and type of schools (public and private).

Results are published in reports, which are available in print. Examination results are broadcasted on the radio and on television, and published in the media.