The 2024 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) results show a mixed bag of performances with some core subjects experiencing a decline, while others have seen notable improvements. There is a slight decrease in the pass rates for both Mathematics and English, alongside several areas of academic progress. These results were announced yesterday at the Queen’s College Auditorium by Minister of Education Priya Manickchand and Chief Education Officer Saddam Hosein.
Core subjects
In English, the pass rate at Grades 1 to 3 dropped from 72% in 2023 to 69% in 2024, a reduction of 3%. However, English B (Literature) experienced an improvement, rising from 64% to 70% over the same period. Mathematics also saw a decline, with the pass rate falling from 34% in 2023 to 31% in 2024. Conversely, Additional Mathematics recorded a positive trend with a pass rate of 53%, reflecting an increase from the previous year.
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand addressed these results by highlighting that the impact of recent strikes was mitigated by strategic measures taken by the ministry. She said, “We dropped 3 percentage points, while the Caribbean average fell by 7 percentage points. Our preemptive measures and resource allocations helped us perform better than anticipated.”
To further support students, she announced that all Grade 4 students will receive essential educational materials, including scientific calculators and geometry sets by September. Additionally, ongoing monitoring and evaluations will be implemented to ensure continuous improvement.
Despite a slight decrease in the number of candidates from 12,108 in 2023 to 11,612 in 2024, the number of subject entries rose to 75,018. The overall pass rate for Grades 1 to 3 in both General and Technical Proficiency subjects was 67.23%, a slight decrease from 67.34% the previous year.
Notable improvements were observed in several subjects. Agricultural Science led with an impressive 98.85% pass rate, followed by Theatre Arts at 98.98% and Family and Resource Management at 91.18%. Human and Social Biology saw a significant increase from 65% to 85%, and Integrated Science’s pass rate rose to 59%. In Business subjects, Principles of Business saw a slight increase to 74%, while Economics declined to 61%. Office Administration and Electronic Document Preparation and Management both demonstrated considerable progress, with pass rates rising to 88% and 93%, respectively.
CAPE
The Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) saw a slight increase in candidates, with 721 participants in 2024 compared to 701 in 2023. The overall pass rate for CAPE slightly decreased to 92.57% from 93% in the previous year.
Candidates were examined in 33 subject areas across various units, with a total of 3,906 entries. The number of Grade 1s increased by 1% to 422, while Grades 2 and 3 saw respective increases of 2% to 830 and 962. Grade 5 results also showed a rise from 497 to 533.
Several units achieved a perfect pass rate, including Agricultural Science Unit 1, Animation Design and Gaming Units 1 and 2, Applied Mathematics Unit 2, and others.
These preliminary results will be reviewed, with any necessary adjustments to be made by September 6, 2024 through the local registrar housed at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development. The results are available via the E-slip option, allowing students to access, verify and share their scores online. This digital approach aims to streamline the process and reduce the need for physical visits to schools.
Plans
During the recent question-and-answer session, Minister Manickchand outlined plans for the upcoming semester and reflected on insights gained from the COVID-19 pandemic. She highlighted how the pandemic underscored the critical role of teachers in education. “Before COVID, there was much debate about integrating technology into teaching,” she said. “The pandemic allowed us to test this approach, and we learned a vital lesson: while technology can support education, the most effective teaching method still involves a teacher actively guiding students in the classroom.”
Manickchand emphasized that while technology can enhance the learning experience, it cannot replace the indispensable role of dedicated teachers. “Some teaching methods used previously were outdated,” she explained. “The best results come from combining technology with engaging, hands-on instruction from a teacher.”
She also addressed concerns about teacher absenteeism and quality. “We need not just any teachers, but committed and well-trained professionals who are continuously developing their skills,” she noted. “Even without strikes, there are troubling figures regarding teacher attendance and performance. For instance, it is concerning when a student finishes eight years of education and still struggles to read by the end of Grade 6.”
To tackle these issues, Manickchand announced that Ingrid Fung has been recruited to improve performance levels in English A, English B, and Mathematics to 80% by September. Manickchand’s strategy includes targeted maths interventions for Form 4 and 5 students, such as providing calculators, exercise books, and practice papers. The plan also involves rigorous monitoring by independent monitors, with increased school visits, direct classroom observations, and enhanced support for teachers.
Regarding the broader issue of mathematics education, Manickchand shared historical context: “Mathematics has been a challenge globally. When I took the CXC exams in 1992, only 13.13% of students passed Mathematics, compared to 30% in the Caribbean. Today, Guyana’s pass rate stands at 32%, with a 7-8% gap compared to the Caribbean average.”
In response to a question about the timing of new teacher evaluations, Chief Education Officer Saddam Hossein explained, “The Ministry of Education for the last year has been moving around from school to school in collaboration with the Guyana Teachers Union to have a new appraisal system in place and then we had some unfortunate activities happening in the last term. New appraisal systems will be starting next term, in September that are less subjective and more evidence based. I think it will be a significant benefit to the system. All head teachers have been trained in [their] use”.
