The Ministry of Education has commissioned a Sixth Form at the Anna Regina Multilateral School to provide access to the Carib-bean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) programme for the first time in Region Two.
The commissioning ceremony was held at the school, where the schools’ headmaster, Rooplall Lalgeet, said that since his tenure began in 2009, there was talk of having a sixth form. He noted that there was a vision and after a few unsuccessful attempts, he is elated to know that the school now has the facility to house sixth form students who are writing CAPE. Lalgeet remarked that it was with the support of the education minister that the idea was made a reality. He disclosed that the school currently has five students who have commenced studies in the school’s newly commissioned sixth form classroom. Integrated Mathematics, Caribbean Studies, Communication Studies, Biology and Chemistry are the subjects being offered at this time. The school will be working towards adding more subjects to ensure that students can earn their Associate Degree upon completion of the two-year programme. It plans to introduce Drama, Physical Education, Agriculture, Food and Nutrition, Integrated Technology, Sociology, as well as subjects in the business area.
The school is also being assisted by another sixth form school – St Joseph High – which the principal said has been very helpful in offering support. The current objective of the school is to achieve a 90 per cent pass rate at the coming examinations.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand, speaking at the ceremony, said it was government’s intention to ensure every student all across Guyana could access quality education across the nursery, primary, and secondary levels. “We are moving closer and closer to universal secondary education that means that children all across the country could access a secondary school. But even as we work for secondary education, access to secondary education, we have the ability to simultaneously expand what we are doing at the secondary schools,” she said.
The minister later told the media that previously if a child from Anna Regina or Johanna Cecilia, or Charity, or Pomeroon, wanted to do CAPE subjects, they had to go to Georgetown and lodge with someone in order to get access. “As you know, that’s just not conducive. People don’t know who they are sending their children to as a result of which a lot of parents choose not to let their children do a seven years of secondary education,” she said. She added that research has shown that seven years of secondary education is optimum and gives more than the five-year course.
Manickchand disclosed that three of the students who initially registered began working before the time approached. Never-theless, the teachers are trained to teach the five students who are enrolled and attending and the others who are likely to come. Further, labs have been built to facilitate the students and Manickchand expressed her pride in knowing that the five students have intentions of pursuing studies in medicine and said that they will be checking on their progress from time to time..
Four of the five students of the new sixth form class told this newspaper that they intend to pursue medicine at the University of Guyana. Aliyah Doodnauth said that she is grateful for the opportunity that has become available to them. She thought that it would be a better option to stay at Anna Regina rather than having to move to George-town to attend another sixth form school. Her mother, Shabana Khan, said that she feels privileged and happy and is proud that her daughter is among the first batch. Further, one of her other children is preparing to write CSEC and she hopes that all her children will also follow suit and attend the sixth form.
Tiffany Boodram, a student, also echoed that it is a great opportunity while her father, Rabinauth Boodram remarked, “I feel much secure knowing that having a teenage daughter, [I don’t have to] send her away to Georgetown, being away from me. I feel very much secure having her do CAPE right in Region Two.” He acknow-ledged he was going to send her to continue her studies in Georgetown but is happier with the programme being in the Region. He opined that the programme has been long overdue for the region.
Romesha Ali, another student, told this newspaper that she thinks it’s going to benefit both herself and her parents. She too said that her family had thought about sending her to Georgetown to study but with the CAPE programme in her hometown she can remain at home and continue studying. Ali’s aunt, Amaena Ali said, “Definitely I am happy because it is an excellent opportunity that they don’t have to go out of the district to further their education”.
The only male student registered, Mark Anthony Singh, said that since his studies for CAPE commenced, the journey has been good. He added that it was amazing to know that he didn’t have to leave his hometown and that he is elated to complete sixth form at Anna Regina.
The subject teachers are also happy to be offering the CAPE subjects at the school. Khelawatie Chandra, the Caribbean Studies teacher for CAPE, and Caribbean History, Visual Art, Social Studies and Physical Education teacher for the grades Seven to Eleven, said that she is very excited for the programme. She noted that the students are dedicated and the teachers work with the students. She believes the 90 per cent pass is possible. The content she has to deliver, she explained, is easily understandable and she is confident it will be a success. Further, the teachers are university-trained and have had training sessions in recent months to better equip themselves with the requisite skills to teach at this level. Chandra said that her colleagues have been working alongside other CAPE-level teachers to become ready.
Tramaine Griffith is the Biology, Integrated Science, and Human and Social Biology teacher and CAPE Biology teacher. “I think it is a wonderful initiative and it’s giving Region Two an opportunity to pursue CAPE. She surmised that it would’ve been much harder if the students had to leave home. Devika Hoomale, the Chemistry teacher enthused, “I think it’s a brilliant idea and it’s going to benefit the students, they don’t have to go out of the Region anymore. I think it a good initiative put over by the government.” She mentioned that St. Joseph High has been offering assistance and that the effort is encouraging the students to perform well.
Tejvati Prasad, the integrated Mathematics teachers is of the opinion that this great initiative will give the children an in-depth understanding of Mathematics, while making life simpler when students decide to attend UG. Nikita James referred to the ceremony as an auspicious moment for the school. “Over the years we have been on par with Bishops and Queens College with the CSEC results. Thanks to the ministry’s efforts we are now able to match them in the CAPE area as well,” the Communications Studies teacher said. She expressed the hope that the students will have 100 per cent passes in the subjects.
Anna Regina Secondary was among seven other schools, including JC Chandisingh, Berbice and West Demerara, which, Manickchand in October said, were to become centres for sixth form students. This decision is part of the ministry’s efforts to make access to educational resources easier across the country. Manickchand disclosed that West Demerara Secondary’s Sixth Form will be commissioned during the coming week.
During the ceremony, the students of the school displayed their talents with dance, a steel pan rendition, and a medley of National Songs. Following the performances, a plaque was unveiled and ribbons cut to officially declare open the sixth form class even though classes had already commenced for the five students nrolled in the CAPE programme.
