Mother of a top CSEC performer says MVAA needs to be given its accolades

An educator who is the mother of one of this year’s top CSEC performers believes that the Mountain View Adventist Academy does not get the recognition it deserves in producing some of the top scholars in this country. 

The Ministry of Education named three top performers at CSEC examinations this week: Kajé Jack of the St Vincent Grammar School, Anjú Dowers of the Mountain View Adventist Academy and Akayla Crichton of the Girls High School. 

Jack sat 14 subjects and obtained all grade ones, Dowers sat 16 subjects and obtained 13 grade one’s, two grade two’s one grade three, and Crichton sat 14 subjects and obtained 11 grade one’s and three grade two’s.

But Angela Dowers, Anjú’s mother told SEARCHLIGHT this week that while she is pleased with her son and the school’s overall performance in the external examinations, she holds the opinion that the Mountain View Adventist Academy “can’t seem to get the accolades that we deserve as a ‘country school’”. 

“We don’t give the credit where credit is deserved or the accolades, and so we try to shelter it under other schools, the schools that we look up to,” Dowers, who is also a teacher at the school, said on Wednesday. “And I personally think he (Anjú) is the top performer for this year. There’s no way 16 could be under 14 with so many ones…and I think it’s time for us to get the recognition that we deserve.” 

According to preliminary results, the Mountain View Adventist Academy recorded an overall pass rate of 85.17 per cent in 2021. It is among 11 schools this year which recorded percentage pass rates of 80% or over. 

Several students from the Academy have also been named among the top CSEC performers in St Vincent and the Grenadines in previous years. 
But the educator is steadfast in her opinion that these scholars are sometimes overlooked. 

“It has been more than one, he is not the only one. And it’s time for us to get the straight recognition for whenever Mountain View is on top, say we are top. Don’t say top of this school and top of that school and top of that school,” she said.

“I remember… about six years ago, when a certain student was obviously, clearly, she was on top; and all the years we used to hear the top students; the top student is this person, but all of a sudden we heard ‘the top male’ and ‘the top female’, because we’re too biased to say the top performer is from Mountain View and I think it’s time that they give us that recognition.” 

“It’s clear that he is on top. So why not just say it. The public could see it…that’s my personal opinion…and how I feel,” Dowers added. She noted further that regardless, the Mountain View Adventist Academy has maintained its track record in delivering academically for yet another year at the CSEC examinations.