Though the country’s pass rate in the core subjects of Mathematics and English continue to languish below 50% at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Edu-cation Certificate (CSEC) examinations, a marginal improvement in the performance of students in these and several other subjects has been recorded.
This is according to a preliminary report on the performance of students at this year’s CSEC examinations, which was presented by Chief Education Officer Olato Sam yesterday.
“The Grade One to Three passes in English A and Mathematics both improved over last year’s performance. The English A pass rate is 49.36%, which is up from 46.98% last year, and the Mathematics pass rate is 45.07% …an increase over last year’s 38.75%,” Sam announced.
Last year, the then Minister of Education Priya Manickchand had referred to the 38.75% Mathematics pass rate as “the best performance in the subject in the country’s history”.
This year, 12, 606 students wrote the CSEC examinations—more than one thousand less than the 13,724 students who wrote the exams last year. Of the students who wrote this year’s examinations, 8,100 were girls, which is almost twice the number of boys (4,506).
Minister of Education Dr Rupert Roopnaraine explained that he has been assured by the Chief Planning Officer that this decrease is a reflection of demographic trends rather than something related to the education system.
Nevertheless, he said the gender disparity has been noted and in his opinion it requires a serious investigation by a sociologist as it is a phenomenon that exists not just locally but also regionally and in the wider world.
The students sat examinations in 35 subjects and achieved an overall pass rate at the General and Technical proficiencies for Grade One to Three of 62.72% as opposed to 60.21% in 2014.
The overall 2015 Grade One to Grade Four pass rate was 84.4%.
These rates, according to the report, indicate a marginal increase in the Grade One to Three passes, when compared with last year’s results.
‘Slippage in sciences’
The report further showed that while the country has seen excellent and satisfactory performances in the business subjects, namely Principles of Business, Economics, Principles of Accounts and Office Administration, there has been what the Minister describes as “slippage” in the sciences.
Sam noted that the overall performance in several science subjects was unsatisfactory.
The results also indicated excellent performances in fifteen (15) subjects where the Grade One to Three passes exceeded seventy five percent (75%). These subjects are: Agriculture Science (DA), Agricultural Science (SA), Clothing & Textiles, Economics, Home Economics Management, Information Technology, Office Administration, Principles of Business, Religious Education, Theatre Arts, Electronic Document Preparation and Management, Physical Education & Sport, Additional Mathematics, Building Technology (Const.) and Building Technology (Woods).
Satisfactory performances were recorded in thirteen (13) subjects where the Grades One to Three passes exceeded fifty percent (50%), while Grades One to Four passes were in excess of seventy five percent (75%). These are: Biology, Caribbean History, English B, Food & Nutrition, French, Geography, Integrated Science, Principles of Accounts, Social Studies, Spanish, Technical Drawing, Electrical & Electronic Technology and Mechanical Engineering Technology.
The overall performance in Chemistry, Physics, Visual Arts and Human & Social Biology was unsatisfactory. The Performance in English B remained relatively constant as in 2014 the Grade One to Three pass rate was 61.45% and 61.76% in 2015.
“Although [the ministry is] not satisfied with the current numbers, [they] are encouraging,” Roopnaraine said, while adding that greater emphasis needs to be placed on the sciences.
Roopnaraine also announced yesterday the introduction of the Desrey Fox Award for the best performing hinterland student, who will be awarded a scholarship to attend the University of Guyana.
