THE Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (JAPSS) says it is hopeful that the improvement in this year's Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) scores, though marginal, is a sign of better things to come.

"What it probably means is that those regions that have been lagging behind have been catching up because those at the primary level have been doing a lot of remedial work and obviously that is taking root," said President Nadine Molloy.

This year's national average for Mathematics was 54.6 per cent compared to 46.0 per cent in 2007; Science recorded a marginal increase with 52.3 per cent up from last year's 52.1; Social Studies moved up by almost five points, averaging at 55.8 per cent; Language Arts registered 52.6 as against the 48.3 per cent average of 2007.

The only subject in which the 2008 national score fell below that of last year was Communication Studies with 56.7 per cent as opposed to 2007's 65.8 per cent.

"For us at the secondary level," Molloy continued, "it simply means we are hopeful that our programmes will fall on more fertile ground and that as the students progress through the secondary system they will be continue to improve."

Responding to reports that the education ministry was dissatisfied with the scores, Molloy said she could understand if the ministry was disappointed, especially if a target had been set. She, however, noted that her association still had a responsibility to acknowledge the improvement.

"I'm not sure if a target had been set and what it was but with what has been happening in our system, if there is an improvement, we should acknowledge and applaud it," she said.

The ministry's Student Assessment Unit said students to receive scholarships won't know before next week since the scholarship committee only met yesterday. It also said that further analyses of the results would be available as of this week.