Jamaica All Island Secondary School Rankings

[Tilla]

Well said Missa Jawge! Well said sar!

If Einstein were born in Jamaica, he would not have achieved what he did academically and scientifically. He didn't start out as any genius and struggled academically at an early age. I wonder how many Einsteins we have allowed to fall through the cracks?

I think it is not the students which are failing, but the education system failing the students. I am sorry if the teachers on the site take offense, bit my comment is not directed at you either.

As long as you have the few schools who take off the top performing students from Common Entrance (GSAT) and coral them in an atmosphere where they can pass some subjects to move to the next level, everything is OK. The system needs to be revamped where it looks out for the education of the masses, not just the few.

[Tilla]

Interestingly we maintain the high standard for Cricket at the Under 19 level..that should be analyzed..

When was the last time they won or finished in the top 4 of the Sunlight Cup?

[Jawge]

Are you saying they are doing it at the fourth and fifth form (10th and 11th grade) level?

[Muadib]

I have never heard of such a thing.. why do you ask ??

[Muadib]

They won in 2009 would have to check on the top 4 finishing...

[Jawge]

Yup it needs revamping where the students from primary schools don't feel that all is lost because they did not make it on one of "those" schools. They could be the next greatest economist, software developer or you name it bringing in millions in terms of windfall to the island. Did Bob Marley pass any exam and enter high school? No Bob is not unusual; only that he had a strong belief in himself and a conviction for his music and the rest is history.

[Jawge]

Then my point stands. Read over my initial arguments.

[Muadib]

I was not contesting your point..

[Don1]

=Jawge;491463]Is that what I said? You edited my post to your twisted understanding the post as if I said that. Your argument is still flawed. If you are saying Campion took the best of the island then what does that say for Mt.Alvernia and Westwood?

Beats me as to why you take this aggressive tack... weird

If I misunderstood whatever it is you meant that's unfortunate... but the point remains that the poor preparation of kids at basic and primary levels is the biggest negative in the education system and is the most significant cause of poor secondary school results

Those of us who actually work in the education system are aware of this reality. I'm not so sure about the typical internet poster

These schools are akin to specialized schools in NYC; therefore based on their strong academic program not all students are prepared and ready to enter. At the same time this does not mean that these same students that didn't achieve the grades to enter will not surpass some of the students of these schools later. What Ja must cease from doing is to let the students that didn't enter these schools feel as if their lives are lost. Not all parents can afford to pay for the extra lessons in order to get their kids prepared for these schools. Therefore these kids may need remedial work or a different learning environment.These kids may well be the creative geniuses that saw through the exams as memory drills thus they get bored and turned off. Consequently Ja may well be throwing away the best civil engineers, physicists, mathematicicans, economists, historians et al (all who could realy pull the economy out of a rut) The "top schools" may well be preserving the professors and teachers.

Lots of interesting theories here. JA would be better off with less theory and more practical work on the ground by concerned parties.

As the Bible says ... Theory without good works is empty

Boss if you can't handle street brawls , how the hell you plan to enter Shaolin and challenge the grand master? Know thy self

So you fancy yourself to be some sort of internet warrior? I guess this accounts for your aggression

Good luck with that

[Willi]

Many of last year Champs stars did excellent in their exams. Sports have little or nothing to do with this. Its the life outside of school that is important. Gangs, poor role models, etc. Girls are curbed more by their parents than boys.

[Willi]

Soccer takes a squad of 20 players...a drop in the bucket for the typical total enrollement of say 600 boys from 4th to 6th form.

What needs to be looked at as well is the improvent curves. Wolmers, STGC and Munro are getting better the last few years. Barely a point separates the 3 of them.

[Willi]

Is it the SYSTEM that needs revamped for all, or just for the failing schools?

Why change Campion/immaculate/ Wolmers G and Alvernia?

What we want is a system reset for that bottom 50% of schools. it is OK to run parallel systems, no? What we want is to optimize/actualize the potential for all or even just MOST.

[Willi]

What is this obsession with manning Cup?

A typical Champs team for a top school is all 150 students, while the Manning Squad is max 22 players. Manning also done by January, so tons of time to prepare for examps later.

Hyde who plays both Manning and is a track star, just got 8 subjects 4 As and 3 Bs. Bllomfield from KC did even better, as did another track star.

[Islandman]

Willi I don't think that is the way to look at it. It's not about wether sports has a role to play in school life. It does. However priorities matter.

When the Cbar community can raise US $100k to win Champs but have these kinds of academic results that tells a story. What does the science lab look like? What is being done in terms of non-athletic co-curricular activities? Not saying they should drop their excellent athletic program but as Jawge says you are operating a public school not a sports academy.

[Islandman]

That is absolutely correct and while the high level plan should come from government, I don't think they can provide all the resources for execution.

A lot of the change Has to be at the school community level with stronger schools helping weaker schools.