Region Six was not responsible for National Grade Six Assessment placements

Jul 13, 2009 News

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NEW AMSTERDAM, BERBICE – The Department of Education in Region Six was not responsible for the placement of students who sat the 2009 National Grade Six Assessment.

This statement comes in the wake of allegations made by some parents who are dissatisfied with the schools awarded to their children.

Last week, one woman spoke of ‘corruption’ because her child was placed at a lower school than another with a similar amount of marks.

Region Six Education Officer, Shafiran Bhajan said that placement across Guyana was done by the Central Ministry. She indicated that this year there was no cut point for entry to secondary schools.

In Region Six, schools were basically ranked based on their performance at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examination (CSEC) for three consecutive years.

In Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) there are three Grade ‘A’ secondary schools – Berbice High School (BHS), New Amsterdam Secondary School (Multilateral), and the J.C. Chandisingh Secondary.

The Grade ‘B’ institutions are Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) and Tutorial Academy in New Amsterdam along with the Corentyne Comprehensive, Skeldon Line Path, Skeldon High, and Tagore Memorial on the Corentyne.

All other schools including the Canje Secondary are classified as ‘C’. The community High Schools are in the ‘D’ category. However, from September, all Community High Schools would be upgraded, since the students would be writing the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examination.

Though there was no cut off point, students who attained 514 and above were placed at the country’s top institutions such as Queen’s College, Bishop’s High, St. Stanislaus College, St. Rose’s High and St. Joseph High in Georgetown. Some of the candidates were also offered places at the President’s College.

Those gaining marks between 513 and 431 were alternately placed at the Berbice High School, New Amsterdam Secondary School, and the J.C. Chandisingh Secondary School.

Those who scored between 430 and 385 were sent to the ‘B’ schools and below 384 – the ‘C’ institutions.

Mrs. Bhajan said that there was a certain criterion for placement that was used. For instance, a candidate may have the marks for an ‘A’ school but live a far distance from an ‘A’ institution. In this scenario, if the student’s score is above 514, then that child would be offered a place at the President’s College. However, if it is below then the placement would be at the closest school to home that suits the marks.

Overall, Mrs. Bhajan is heartened by the performance of the candidates in East Berbice /Corentyne at this year’s assessment.

A nine percent increase was recorded in the region.

Of the 3,105 students who wrote the examination, 2,721 were awarded places at discreet secondary schools. This represents 88 percent, an increase over the 79 percent in 2008, “We are very happy that we have 89 percent of our students awarded places at discreet secondary schools. The performance has really improved overall.”

Last year 2,966 wrote the said assessment and 2,333 were placed at secondary schools.

The National Grade Two Assessment accounts for five percent of the marks for placement to secondary schools, while the National Grade Four Assessment – ten percent and the National Grade Six Assessment – 85 percent.

In 2008, 633 candidates were placed at primary tops (the secondary level of a primary school) and this year the figure stands at 384.

Those who were not awarded discreet secondary schools are placed at Primary tops. These institutions are at Yakusari and Belvedere on the Corentyne, Cumberland, Rose Hall Estate in East Canje, Overwinning and Edinburgh on the outskirts of New Amsterdam and at Plegt Anker and Schepmoed Primary School on the East Bank of Berbice.

The Corriverton Primary Top and the Trinity Street Primary Top were upgraded to Skeldon High School Annexe and the Vryman’s Erven Secondary Annexe respectively.

The Primary Tops serve as feeders for some secondary schools. For instance, if a student from the Overwinning Primary School performs at the expected level at the National Grade Nine Examination, then that child is placed at institutions such as Vryman’s Erven, Tutorial Secondary Schools or the Berbice Educational Institute, and in exceptional cases, higher institutions.

There are also the tech-voc schools for those who lack an academic inclination. The Manchester and Port Mourant Community High Schools were used as pilot programmes for this aspect.

Of the 79 students who were placed at top schools in Georgetown (514 marks and above) Cumberland Primary School got 20, Corriverton, Cropper and Port Mourant Primary School seven each, St. Therese’s and All Saints six each, Skeldon four, Fraser’s and Sheet Anchor three each, Massiah and Albion two each and one place each for Fyrish, Rose Hall Estate, Rose Hall, Bohemia, Tain, Number Thirty-six, Number Fifty-six, Number Forty-eight, Friends and Dur Ul Arqam.

Edinburgh Primary for the first time made its mark on the performance map when it gained two places at top schools in Georgetown.

The top student for East Berbice/Corentyne is Raman Arjune of the Edinburgh Primary School . He scored 559 marks. He was trailed by Dadia John of Skeldon Primary who achieved 558 marks. Other high flyers were Arifa Mohamed of Cumberland Primary with 552 marks, Trevor Ramjohn of Cumberland Primary 551, Simeon Singh of Cropper Primary 550, Tressyia Ketwaru of Skeldon primary 549, Arantxa Lashley of Cropper 547, Jamesha Stewart of Cumberland 546, Theresa Jaikissoon of Port Mourant Primary 544 and Minroy Punwa of Cumberland Primary 544.

Mrs. Bhajan cited the three-prong strategy whereby the Region emphasised literacy and focused on the training of the teachers and NCERD supplied thousands of books. The Department also encouraged the schools to establish class libraries. Another aspect is the home/school relationship. In Region Six there is a Regional Parent/Teacher body which comprises persons from the three Sub-Regions – New Amsterdam, the East Bank of Berbice, Canje as well as the Upper and Central Corentyne and Black Bush Polder.

Meanwhile, some parents are of the belief that private schools are a sure shot for their children to achieve academic success. According to an analysis prepared by the Department of Education in Region Six, some of these private institutions did not measure up to the performances of the public schools. A number of children from these private institutions were not even awarded a place.

The School of the Nation sent up four students for the assessment, two were placed at the New Amsterdam Secondary School (Multilateral), one at the Berbice Educational Institute, and no mention was made of the fourth candidate.

The Dur Ul Arqam entered 23 candidates; one was awarded a place at the St. Joseph’s High School, ten at the Skeldon High School and, nine at Skeldon Line Path.

At Fraser’s Academy, 10 students sat the assessment and one was awarded a place at the Bishop’s High School, two at St. Rose’s High and two Berbice High School, three at the New Amsterdam Secondary School (Multilateral), one at Tutorial Academy, and one at the secondary department of a primary school.

Seven entered from the New Amsterdam Islamic School, one was placed at the Berbice Educational Institute, two Canje Secondary School, one went to Lower Corentyne Secondary and another was sent to the Tutorial Academy.

Guyana Educational School sent up seven. Three were sent to the Berbice Educational Institute and one to the top of a primary school.

Mrs. Bhajan posited that the Ministry of Education offers, inter alia, innovative curriculum methodology and evaluation strategy in addition to ongoing training for teachers at public schools and only recognised private institutions can benefit from this.

 

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