11 schools record pass rates of over 80% for CSEC exams for SVG

THERE HAS been an improvement in the performance of candidates from St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) in the August 2020 Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate Examinations (CSEC), with 11 schools recording percentage pass rates in excess of 80 per cent.

The Ministry of Education said in a release issued last Wednesday that these 11 schools are: Girls’ High School – 97.88%, St Martin’s Secondary School – 94.48%, Bequia Seventh Day Adventist School – 94.19%, St. Vincent Grammar School – 93.32%, St Joseph’s Convent Kingstown – 86.91%, Thomas Saunders Secondary – 85.23%, Mountain View Adventist Academy – 83.64%, West St George Secondary – 83.59%, St Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua – 82.68%, North Union Secondary – 81.38%, Georgetown Secondary – 81.15%.

Twelve schools obtained creditable pass rates between 60% and 80%. These are: Emmanuel High School Mesopotamia – 78.23%, Dr J P Eustace Memorial Secondary School – 77.57%, Bishop’s College Kingstown – 77.09%, Bethel High School – 74.65%, Intermediate High School – 73.10%, Sandy Bay Secondary – 70.98%, Buccament Bay Secondary – 69.50%, Central Leeward Secondary – 69.48%, St Clair Dacon Secondary – 65.99%, Adelphi Secondary – 65.90%, George Stephens Senior Secondary – 65.15% and Troumaca Secondary – 63.33%.

“The Central Leeward Secondary School (CLSS) and the Buccament Bay Secondary School (BBSS) show vast improvement in their performance at the 2020 CSEC examinations. In 2019, the CLSS recorded a pass rate of 44.77% and the BBSS recorded a pass rate of 44.08%. In 2020, CLSS pass rate increased to 69.48% and the BBSS pass rate rose to 69.50%. These figures represent an increase of 24.70% and 25.43% respectively,” the release from the Ministry of Education said.

The following students had outstanding performances in this year’s exam: Paige Cadogan (Girls High School) – sat 15 subjects; obtained 14 grade ones and 1 grade two.

Zowie Bullock (Girls High School) – sat 13 subjects; obtained 13 grade ones Denisha Parsons (Girls High School) – sat 13 subjects; obtained 13 grade ones Jaynika Williams (Girls High School) – sat 13 subjects; obtained 13 grade ones.

The release from the Ministry of Education said this year, 2425 candidates were registered, of which, 856 were private candidates and 1569 were school candidates.

There were 1552 school candidates sitting 10,914 subject entries in 31 subject areas, from 26 secondary schools. Approximately 81.86% of the subject entries were awarded Grades I – III (the corresponding figure in 2019 was 74.33% and 74.67% in 2018).

This year, 22.09% of the passes were at Grade I

level, 37.62% at Grade II and 40.30% at Grade III. Last year’s figures were 15.62% at Grade I, 38.53% at Grade II and 45.85% at Grade III.

The overall pass rate for Mathematics has risen from 33.10% in 2019 to 53.41% in 2020 and English A has also shown an increase from 76.08% in 2019 to 86.73% in 2020.

“The Ministry of Education congratulates all students and extends gratitude to the principals, teachers and staff at all schools for their support of the students. We are cognizant of the fact that outcomes in education are measured, no only in quantitative terms, but also in qualitative terms; therefore, the value added to the lives of all the students, the top performers as well as those whose performances can be improved, is greatly appreciated.

“All principals continue to work diligently in conjunction with the Ministry of Education in support of their schools’ effectiveness and the students’ success,” the release said.