TOP CAPE STUDENTS
TOP CSEC STUDENTS
The Ministry of Education applauds the efforts of the students, teachers, parents and others which contributed to the success of the students of the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School who sat the May/June CCSLC, CSEC and CAPE examinations under the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC). Despite the setbacks caused by Hurricane Irma, the students performed remarkably well. The Ministry is also proud that students were able to sit the Paper 1 (multiple choice) examinations using the new E-testing platform. Anguilla, along with BVI, received notable mention by the CXC Registrar during the official release of results, in Grenada, for demonstrating resilience in being able to do E-testing despite having suffered the ravages of natural disaster. The Ministry is grateful for the efforts of all those who made this possible including the Chief Education Officer, the CXC Local Registrar, the Education Services Planner, the DITES Team, the ALHCS Senior Management Team, FLOW and the Ministry of Finance. Honourable mention must also be made of FLOW for coming on board and launching the FLOW study programme which provided an invaluable platform to assist students in preparing for the examinations.
The Ministry of Education remains committed in its efforts to ensure that all students have the opportunity to reach their full potential in keeping with the principle of comprehensive education. While there is still much work to be done, we are confident that we are heading in the right direction. Many would have noted, with alarm, the comments of the CXC Registrar in relation to the 11,000 students across the region who failed to attain any subject passes at the May/ June sitting of the CSEC examinations. This represented 13% of the cohort of approximately 84,600 students across the region who wrote the examination. While concerning, this statistic is certainly not a new development. Sadly, this has been the case for many years and hence the need for Ministries of Education across the region to consistently work on improving student performance. However, what is of greater concern is that only 20% of students across the region actually sat the CSEC examinations. It is important that, as a region, we are able to track what is becoming of these children. Are they offered other comparable certification in their countries? How many of them are students with special education needs which would prevent them from accessing the CSEC programme? Do they have different talents and abilities that are not currently tested by CSEC?
Thankfully in Anguilla the narrative is somewhat different. Because we have embraced a comprehensive system of education, we must cater to various interests, talents and abilities. The creation of the Workshop Initiative for Secondary Education (WISE) programme, for example, seeks to keep students engaged in learning by placing them in a smaller setting where greater attention can be paid to their needs. At ALHCS, in addition to the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, students are able to sit the Caribbean Certification for Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC), the American Hotel and Lodging Association Examinations, local examinations and, most recently, Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) competency based examinations, thus enabling them to leave secondary school with certification suited to their abilities and interests. Students are able to pursue a combination of subject areas from any of these examining bodies. The Ministry acknowledges that there is still a need for employers to embrace CCSLC, and local certification, and will continue to lobby for this. However, the BTEC qualifications are internationally recognized and are a great platform for students who wish to pursue studies in more technical areas. Additional BTEC courses (including Construction, Beauty Therapy and Hairdressing, Health and Social Care) will be offered this upcoming school year, and the Ministry is eager for the construction of the new ALHCS which will have the facilities and equipment necessary to expand course offerings and hence opportunities for students.
With regard to the results in this year’s Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) examinations, 81% of the subject entries received acceptable grades with 28% attaining Mastery and 53% attaining competence. The CCSLC measures basic competencies in a number of subject areas that every secondary school student ought to have. Anguilla entered students in English, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science. Students who achieve acceptable grades in these areas would have demonstrated competence or mastery in these basic competencies. The Ministry continues to encourage employers to recognise that there are some entry level jobs for which CCSLC would be adequate qualifications.
For this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, the Ministry is particularly pleased that, given the current space, financial and other constraints, student performance remained consistent with previous years and in fact was an improvement over the 2017 performance. Overall, 79% of subject entries achieved acceptable grades compared with 75% in 2017. Of the 193 students of the ALHCS who sat the CSEC examinations, 19 did not attain any acceptable grades. (Of that 19, 11 would have only sat one subject.) Approximately 90% of candidates achieved acceptable grades in one or more subjects, and 61% achieved acceptable grades in four or more subject areas. It is commendable that in 22 of the 31 subject areas examined, there were over 75% of candidates achieving acceptable grades – and in 10 of those subjects, there was 100% success. There were notable improvements in English A (89% success), English B (95% success) and Mathematics (60% success). On the other hand, the Ministry of Education notes the decline in performance in some subject areas and will undertake further analysis and support to ensure improvement.
With regard to the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), the Ministry of Education is encouraged by the increase in the number of students (142) who sat this year’s CAPE in 30 subject areas including, for the first time, Performing Arts. Overall student performance remained generally consistent with 2017, with 85% of subject entries achieving acceptable grades. It is noteworthy that in 43 of 49 Units sat, over 75% of the students achieved acceptable grades, and in 27 of those Units there was 100% success. However, the Ministry notes the decline in the student performance in a few subject areas and in the number of students achieving Grade 1. While we must take post-Irma conditions into consideration, these issues point to the need to improve the level of grade achievement which will require the collaborative effort and involvement of school, home and student.
Again, the Ministry of Education acknowledges and expresses sincere gratitude for the work of all education stakeholders who have contributed to the achievement of our students in the 2018 CXC examinations. We recognize the need to broaden the pathways available to students so that the CSEC examination is not viewed as the only measure of student success. We have begun this process, as outlined earlier, and maintain our commitment to ensuring each student has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential. The Ministry kindly asks for the support of the Anguillian community as we forge ahead.
