Dear Editor,
I refer to the article captioned, ‘Maths, English passes continue to plummet‘ (SN, August 11). In this piece, which focused on 2012 CSEC results, SN reported that Minister Manickchand was not pleased with the country’s private schools and said they were “bringing down the national average.” In an effort to give credit where it is rightly due, I now move to state the record as it applies specifically to Marian Academy, a private school.
For starters, it is recognized that the Minister was making a generalized, broad-based statement. In so doing, she not only ran the risk of lumping, but actually lumped those private institutions which contributed considerably to a raising of the national average at the 2012 CSEC examinations, with those that lowered it. This redounded to the detriment of one private institution, namely Marian Academy and its high performing body of students. The hard facts now follow and speak for themselves.
The pass rates (Grades 1-3) for Marian Academy in Maths and English were 87% and 94% respectively. In those same two subjects the national average was 29.69% (Maths) and 37% (English). And the overall pass rate for the school in all subjects was 95%. Like I said, these numbers speak for themselves and run counter, in the instance of Marian Academy, to the Minister’s position.
While the Minister has taken the time to signal some satisfaction with the early indications from her pilot programme, I say that it should not have been particularly arduous for her to give credit where such is due. In the circumstances, I venture to suggest that the Minister be more careful in attention to detail, if only to reflect the precision of the facts. I am sure that she will agree heartily.
It should be disclosed that I have some history and a current association with Marian. In parting, congratulations are extended to all those who did well. To those now readying themselves for the challenges of 2013 (and those trying again), I remind them that there is much work ahead.
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall
