PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- As of January 2014, the United States government has decided to raise the standards and level of the General Equivalency Diplomas (GED) scoring system by implementing new requirements. This change became necessary to better comply with the high school and job market requirements, according to Head of Division Study Financing, A. M. Aventurin.
Students are now required to score a minimum of 150 points for each of the following 4 subjects: Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies. As such, a student must score a total of 600 points to attain a GED diploma.
Considering the aforementioned, it became necessary for the Government of St. Maarten to amend the requirements for study financing applicants, Aventurin said.
Furthermore, he pointed out that the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Affairs Patricia Lourens-Philip had decreed by decision of February 13, 2014 number 2014/78 that effective January 1, 2014, persons applying for study financing with the new General Equivalency Diplomas (GED) must have a minimum total score of 635 to come into consideration for study financing from the Government of St. Maarten.
This information is important for students who have applied for study financing and are currently pursuing a GED diploma.
The minimum score of 480 is still applicable for GED diplomas issued prior to January 1, 2014.
For more information please contact the Division of Study Financing located at N. De Brotstraat #3, Vlaun Building, (Opposite the Post Office) from Monday – Friday, 8:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 17:00.