$85.7M boost to help improve pass rate in CSEC’s Maths, English

Jan 05, 2012 News

A whopping G$85.7 M contract has been approved by Cabinet for the Ministry of Education in the quest to help improve the past rate obtained in Mathematics and English at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examination (CSEC).
According to Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, the sum will be directed to an ambitious plan which was streamlined last month by new Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, and will go towards the procurement of items to boost students’ learning.
These will include CXC General Maths Book I and II; the Self-Study Guide for CXC; the collection of revision DVDs; the combined past papers from 2008 to 2011; Model Solutions to difficult answers, Combined Solution for everything in addition to a geometry set, graph paper and a scientific calculator.
The Minister upon assuming office sought to amplify the need for an urgent improvement in the subject areas of English and Mathematics countrywide. The latter subject area saw a significant decline reflective in a below 35 per cent pass rate last year thus suggesting that there is a need for even more attention, according to Minister Manickchand.
She speculated that the existing low mathematics grades may very well be linked to the fact that the confidence level of the country as a whole may be equally low. She observed, though, that this dilemma is not unique to Guyana as it is very evident in the region over.
“Some of us are feeling almost beaten because we do so poorly in the area (Maths) and some of us who stop to recognize that it is not Guyana alone use it as an excuse that ‘Oh! Is not we alone! Is everybody doing bad and so it is alright for us to do badly’…I am saying we don’t have to do badly.”
However, despite the evident poor performance rate, Manickchand said that the Ministry has recognized that there is capacity within the system to help foster improved performance thus the introduction of the strategic project at this juncture.
Concern for the performance in the subject areas saw the Minister backed by senior education officials, the likes of Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam, Assistant Chief Education Officer (Secondary), Ms. Doodmattie Singh, and others travelling the country to meet with stakeholders ahead of the commencement of the ambitious project which was introduced last month at schools targeted to pilot its feasibility.
Among the schools participating in the project are Abram Zuil, Anna Regina and Aurora (Region Two); West Demerara, Zeeburg, Patentia, Leonora, Stewartville (Region Three); Annandale, Coven Garden, Bladen Hall, Hope (Region Four); East Ruimveldt, Christ Church, North Georgetown, Central, Brickdam, North Ruimveldt, Richard Ishmael (Georgetown), Bushlot, Mahaicony, Bygeval, Woodly Park Primary Tops (Region Five); J. C. Chandisingh, Tagore Memorial, , New Amsterdam Multi, Berbice High, Skeldon LinePath (Region Six); Three Miles (Region Seven), St. Ignatius (Region Nine), McKenzie High, Christianburg and Silver City (Region 10).
In addition to having trained Mathematics teachers, the schools were chosen based on the fact that their results were good enough in the past two years and are therefore deemed to have foundations which can foster the objectives of the ambitious project.
Just over 4,000 students are being targeted, Manickchand noted. Each student, she said, will be provided with the procured materials and teachers will be well equipped as well to deliver lessons to students. Teachers will each be provided with individual syllabuses and a collection of the package so that they will be able to effectively work with each child.
The move, according to her, represents a four-prong partnership including collaboration between Government, teachers, parents and students.
The expected results can be achieved, the Minister noted, “if for the next few months we stick to the programme of Mathematics and English, of course accompanying the other subjects our children are writing, with the resources we are willing to give you we could see a 20 per cent increase in the national pass mark…”

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$85.7M boost to help improve pass rate in CSEC’s Maths, English

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