'Virtually illiterate' - Students' performance in core CSEC

[Mosiah]

'Virtually illiterate' - Students' performance in core CSEC subjects appalling
published: Friday | December 14, 2007


THOMPSON
Jamaican students continue to underperform in core subjects in the main regional assessment examination - the Caribbean Secondary [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]Education [COLOR=orange! important]Certificate[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] (CSEC) - after five years in high school, causing at least one education advocate to describe the results as appalling.
According to an analysis of the 2007 CSEC results, conducted by Dr. Ralph Thompson, education advocate and businessman, 89 per cent of students in non-traditional high schools failed English language, while 37 per cent of their peers in traditional high schools also failed the subject.
As it relates to mathematics, 96 per cent of students in non-[COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]traditional [COLOR=orange! important]schools[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] failed the subject, while 59 per cent of their counterparts in traditional high schools were unsuccessful in mathematics.
90 per cent failed math
When the results were analysed for students in [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]technical [COLOR=orange! important]schools[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR], 81 per cent failed English language, while 90 per cent failed mathematics.
According to Dr. Thompson, total school enrolment for English language was 40,037, but 17,612 students were not allowed to sit the examination. Of the 22,425 who sat the examination, 10,789 failed.
"So, between those who are culled and those who failed, 28,401 Jamaican children left our high schools virtually illiterate, barely able to understand or speak standard English," said Dr. Thompson.
He recommended that at least 11 per cent of the next education budget go to [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]early-childhood [COLOR=orange! important]education[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR], and teachers should be licensed and paid according to performance.
Andrew Holness, Minister of Education, said the results were not surprising, noting that Jamaican students had been underperforming in the core areas for several years.
However, he indicated that the Government was moving swiftly to address several issues in the education system, which would see animprovement in students' performance.
"The Ministry of Education acknowledges that we have a problem with the quality of education in the country," Mr. Holness told The Gleaner.
"We have the capacity but the country needs to make a solid commitment to education."
To this end, Mr. Holness said proper assessment of students would be done in almost all grades at the primary level. He also said an inspectorate of schools would be created and his ministry was in the process of piloting a numeracy test.
Meanwhile, Ena Barclay, president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) said the JTA was not pleased with the results.
"We would want to know that our students are performing at a higher standard," Mrs. Barclay told The Gleaner yesterday.
She noted that the poor results further confirms the argument that more emphasis needs to be placed at the early childhood and primary levels.
The JTA boss also said there needs to be constant training of teachers.
In the meantime, Dr. Thompson said when the overall pass rates were disaggregated, it became clear that the crucial problem with the education system was in the non-traditional school segment.
He noted that some 70 per cent of the total secondary school population attend non-traditional schools and these institutions should be the prime focus of an education policy.
Mr. Holness said there were plans to improve non-traditional schools by providing them with more resources, among other things.
When Dr. Thompson ranked traditional schools based on their performance in the two core subjects, Wolmer's High School for girls came out on top for English Language, while Campion College topped the chart for mathematics. Notably, seven of the schools in the top 10 for English were all girls institutions. Five of the 10 schools in the top 10 for mathematics were also all-girls institutions. Traditional all-boys high schools such as Kingston College, St. George's College, Munro, Jamaica College and Cornwall College did not make it in the top 10 for either subject. Wolmer's [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]High [COLOR=orange! important]School[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] for Boys was the only all-boys institution that made it in the top 10.

[Muadib]

Munro ?

But mi tink a good school dat ?

[Hortical]

Not in the top 10 for english & math?

KC students score record passes in CSEC, CAPE subjects Boys bounce back - KC students score record passes in CSEC, CAPE subjects
published: Thursday | October 18, 2007
Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Students leaving the North Street-based Kingston College yesterday. The all-boys institution has experienced record CSEC and CAPE passes this year. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief
At a time when only 18 per cent of men are matriculating to the of the West Indies (UWI), more than 200 boys at Kingston College proved that not all men are failing when they scored 100 per cent passes in their CAPE and CSEC examinations.

Of the 279 boys who sat the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) in May and June this year, 229 passed five or more subjects.
At the CSEC level, the boys got 100 per cent passes in biology, electronic document preparation management, integrated science, mechanical engineering technology and religious education.

They also received 98 per cent passes in geography, office administration and principles of business, and 99 per cent for social studies.
For the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) Unit one, the boys scored 100 per cent for chemistry, communications studies, and economics.

And for Unit two they got 100 per cent passes in biology, chemistry, history, literatures in English and sociology.
The three proud vice-principals who shared the information with The Gleaner had nothing but high praises for the who they said were the main drivers behind the boys' success.

"We have dedicated teachers," Juliet Wilson, one of the vice-principals told The Gleaner yesterday.
She noted that the dedication begins at first form as the teachers know everything about the boys.
"Once they don't turn up for classes, the teachers know and will do their investigations," she said.

Everton Burrell, another vice-principal said the teachers are always there for the children. He noted that they are like their second mother and fathers. In fact, on weekends, teachers can be seen in the staff room grading papers or doing some sort of work for the boys.

"It's just the culture here at KC, the teachers are so interested in the boys ...," Ms. Wilson said.
There is also this synergy among the educators, they have a staff club, Karoke evenings among other things.

The excellent CSEC passes have proven a challenge for the sixth form as a large number of students advanced to that level this year. However, the school hired part-time teachers to facilitate the students because they did not want them to pursue elsewhere.
Marguerita Hall, another vice-principal said the school's old boys also played a role in the students 'success. She noted that they mentor the boys and support them financially.

Ms. Wilson said most of the boys are from poor families and attended primary schools.
Meanwhile, Paul Jones who gained 10 ones at CSEC said the competition among the boys in his class was a contributing factor to his success. He also described his teachers as "wonderful and perfectionists". Jones is currently in lower six where he is pursuing five CAPE subjects.
Loxley Wallace, another top performer at CSEC said he made many sacrifices to attain the grades he received.

Meanwhile, Chief Education Officer, Jasper Lawrence, said KC was a shining example that boys can succeed. However, he noted that they need conducive situations.

"Perhaps if we had more schools like KC, then more boys would succeed," he said, adding that Jamaica needs to spend more money on its boys for them to perform better.

He noted that boys at other schools such as Cornwall College and Munro College were also performing well. Jamaica College, another all boys institution also saw an improvement in its CAPE results this year.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com

Number of students passing at CSEC at Kingston College
11 subjects 1
10 subjects 11
9 subjects 29
8 subjects 47
7 subjects 43
6 subjects 55
5 subjects 43
4 subjects 26
3 subjects 11
2 subjects 10
1 subject 2
0 subject 1

[Mosiah]

Sunday's paper will explain it all. I am sure Munro will be exonerated.

[Hortical]

I would like to know if there is much of a statistical difference between schools ranked 1st-10th in math or english, versus a schools ranked 11th-20th .

[Mosiah]

We'll see! I hope the report gives the whole story - how many students in the class, how many were allowed to sit the exam, etc.