By Sue-Ann Wayow
OVER the past ten to 15 years, an average of 47% of pupils in the education system do not make it to Form Five.
They, therefore, do not obtain at least five passes in the important Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) which is a requirement for moving on to higher level of education.
The Ministry of Education in a press release on Tuesday stated that Cabinet has approved the Ministry of Education’s Framework for Revised Operations in selected secondary schools during the period 2022-2027 aimed at increasing student achievement and equity of educational opportunity.
The ministry stated, “Data collected by the Ministry of Education has pointed to less than optimal school climates in some of our secondary schools, attributable to the existing circumstances under which these schools operate. Issues such as the availability of resources, student motivation, student confidence, teacher motivation, family circumstances, parental involvement, perceived interest in the school, school leadership, school environment, historical and expected school output have, throughout many years, had an impact on the performance of the students at these schools.”
An analysis of the characteristics which are found to be common among secondary schools with low levels of success in student achievement include:
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Greater than 60% Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) intake with scores under 50% ;
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Parents with low socioeconomic circumstances;
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Many students from single-parent homes;
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Absent or inactive school support networks such as PTA and Alumni Associations;
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High absenteeism of students;
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Significant student attrition;
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High levels of student indiscipline; and
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Critical school infrastructure in need of repair
While the MOE’s Vacation Revision Program (VRP) will play a role in providing additional academic and psychosocial support to students who need it, an organised, sustained and sustainable systemic approach to school operation is required in some schools to change their current trajectory with respect to student output, the release stated. This calls for actions which go beyond the scope of the VRP, the ministry said.
