Dear Editor,
I have a niece attending The Bishops’ High School for her 2 years of 6th form. Having studied at Queen’s College from Forms 1-5, deciding she wants to pursue a path in medicine, she transferred citing Bishops’ High as the best option for her advanced years.
With her experience in the environment of these two schools, I’ve been made aware of the different dynamics through her. It is with this that I would like to express sincere disappointment in Guyana’s alleged top school, Queen’s College, though, no surprise.
All schools have their merits and demerits, and what I’m about to say here is going to receive a significant amount of backlash from readers but it is something that has to be said, now more than ever.
I’ve been made aware of the night and day contrast when it comes to the environment of the two schools when it comes to the things that matter: support, teacher/student mentoring, and being a healthy family, one where your background does not matter and everyone is their brother’s keeper. Queen’s College falls heavily on the back legs, for image is their primary concern and it is well known that they are the “Government’s Baby” irrespective of all their downfalls; hence the ‘no surprise’ mentioned earlier.
All of this is relevant because of what my niece has just made me aware of. Upon the release of the CAPE 2020 results by CXC, everyone saw that the grades were blatantly faulty. The only logical reason for such a Region-wide fault is a systematic error within the Council’s system itself. Understandably so, the students took the initiative and launched a petition for CXC to review these results at no cost to the students (normally the cost is USD $30 per review), a request that seems only fair and owed to the students who have studied hard all year(s) long for these exams.
A united front was supposed to be presented, the students united against what could only be described as unfair, to them. This was what was supposed to be, until Queen’s College decided to have a meeting with the Ministry of Education and others unknown, undoubtedly high ranking officials, teachers and students. A meeting that was supposed to be kept secret, but of course word got out of the meeting but lips are sealed as it relates to what was being discussed.
What was supposed to be unity has changed lanes without a second thought into a survival of the fittest situation. Whether this is the work of the students or the older folks telling the students that this is the path to follow, is not known but I’m sure it’s a combination of both.
They are young adults, they deserve a say and they deserve our support. Please, I know many of you out there have children of your own maybe even one of the CAPE students, my niece is the closest to a child of my own that I have, but I am hoping that you will support Guyana’s children through this, for this and for the years to come, they’ve all worked hard especially in these trying times. We need unity; parents, students and schools.
CXC, you need to do the right thing here, transparency in your marking and grading process.
Yours faithfully,
Victor Ramroop