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| Cayon's O'Nelia Williams passed 8 of 9 subjects |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, SEPTEMBER 4TH 2006 - The Washington Archibald High School obtained the highest overall pass rate in the Federation, for the 2006 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examinations (CSEC).
The Washington Archibald High School, which entered 701 entries, registered 576 passes for a pass rate of 82.17 percent. The Sandy Point High School, with 567 entries, received 448 passes, a 79 % pass rate. There were 410 subject entries at the Charlestown Secondary School and 327 obtained passing grades, giving a 78.2 % pass rate.
The Cayon High School had 493 subject entries and 372 returned passing grades, for a pass rate of 75.46 %. The Basseterre High School had 680 subject entries, of which 497 returned passes for a pass rate of 73.1 %. The Gingerland High School, 318 entries, 208 passes, obtaining a 65.4 % pass rate. The St. Theresa's Convent School, the only private school, entered 112 subject entries and returned 71 passes, giving a pass rate of 63.4 %; while at the Verchilds High School, there were 255 entries, with 151 passes, and a 59.2 % pass rate.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Hon. Sam Condor disclosed that the Basseterre High School and the Washington Archibald High School entered the most candidates, 115 and 112 respectively.
"This is important, when one recalls that last year, I was somewhat critical, that the two of our larger schools entered less than smaller schools, such as Sandy Point High School and Cayon High School. I am quite pleased therefore, that the BHS and WAHS have improved, in terms of the number of candidates taking the examinations. I commend the schools for their efforts at giving more students an opportunity," said Minister Condor.
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| Cayon High School Joan Morris passed 8 of 9 subjects |
He said that the Cayon High School has maintained its level, with 88 students compared to 90 last year). The Charlestown Secondary showed a small increase of 64 students compared to 51 last year, while the Sandy Point High School, the Gingerland High School and the Verchilds High School, entered fewer candidates.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that in general, 648 students in St. Kitts and Nevis wrote the CSEC exams this year, compared to 594 last year, an increase of about 9%.
He congratulated the Washington Archibald High School for obtaining the highest overall pass rate in the Federation and applauded the students, teachers and parents for the excellent showing.
The Sandy Point High School and the Charlestown Secondary School were also commended for the close second and third respectively, in the ranking.
Minister Condor made special mention of the Cayon High School, for its improved performance this year. "In fact, the 75.5% pass rate for the Cayon High School, makes it easily the most improved school this year, with an increase of some 8% overall pass rate, over 2005 performance," he said, expressing expectations that the staff, students and parents of the school, will take this improved performance forward, and continue the progress.
He said overall there was a total of 3536 subject entries with a total of 2650 passes, returning a pass rate of approximately 75%; a slight drop of 2.1 % from 2005. The Washington Archibald High School, The Sandy Point High School and the Cayon High School returned higher pass rates when compared to 2005, while the Basseterre High School, the Charlestown Secondary School, the Convent School, the Gingerland High School and the Verchilds High School returned lower pass rates.
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| Kirstin Hendrickson (left) and Gerana Joseph of the Verchild's High School passed 8 out of 9 and 6 out of 8 respectively. |
In providing an analysis on the performance of specific subjects in each school, the Federal Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education reported that at the Basseterre High School, 24 subjects were offered.
The subjects of Agricultural Science, Visual Arts, Biology, Chemistry, Clothing and Textiles, Electronic Document Preparation, French, Home Management, Information Technology, Office Administration, Physical Education and Sports, Principles of Business, Principles of Accounts and Technical Drawing returned pass rates of 80 percent and above.
"The pass rates of many of the other subject areas were fairly satisfactory. However, the subject areas of Building Technology (Woods), English B (Literature) and Physics registered pass rates of less than 50 %: Geography and Spanish were borderline at 50.9 % and 50% respectively. These, no doubt, contributed to the drop in the overall pass rate, and require in-depth analysis," said Minister Condor.
At the Cayon High School candidates wrote 25 subject areas. Pass rates of 80-100 % were obtained in Agricultural Science (Double Award), Biology, Caribbean History, Chemistry, Electronic Document Preparation, Food and Nutrition, French, Integrated Science, Office Management, Principles of Accounts, Technical Drawing and Typewriting.
The weak subject areas were Building Technology (Woods), English B and Physics and will require some serious remedial action.
There were 23 subject entries at the Charlestown Secondary School. Outstanding performances were returned in Biology, Building Technology (Construction), Building Technology (Woods), Food and Nutrition, French, Integrated Science, Office Management, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business, Social Studies, Technical Drawing and Typewriting. Performance in Electricity Electronics and Spanish fell below the 50% pass rate.
At the Convent High School, entries were in 15 subject areas. Outstanding results with pass rate of 80-100 % were returned in Biology, French, Human & Social Biology, Integrated Science, Information Technology, Office Administration, Social Studies, Spanish, and Technical Drawing. Weak performances were returned in Chemistry, Geography, Mathematics and Principles of Accounts.
The Gingerland High School returned outstanding performances in Agricultural Science, Building Technology (Woods), Chemistry, Clothing and Textiles, Electronic Document Preparation, English B, Food & Nutrition, Information Technology, Office Administration and Social Studies. The weak subjects were: Electrical Technology, Geography and Mathematics.
The Sandy Point High School returned excellent performances in Agricultural Science, Visual Arts, Biology, Building Technology (Woods), Caribbean History, Chemistry, Electronic Document preparation, French, Home Economics Management, Information Technology, Integrated Science, Office Administration, Principles of Business, Principles of Accounts, Social Studies, Spanish and Technical Drawing. All subjects returned pass rates of over 50%.
The Verchilds High School returned good performances in Visual Arts, Building Technology (Woods), Chemistry, Electronic Document Preparation, Home Economics Management, Human & Social Biology, Information Technology, Social studies, Spanish and Technical Drawing. Weak subject areas were: Physics, Mathematics, Geography, French and English B (Literature).
Excellent results (pass rates 80% -100%) were returned at the Washington Archibald High School in Agricultural Science, Visual Arts, Biology, Building Technology (Woods), Caribbean History, Chemistry, Clothing & Textiles, Electronic Document Preparation, English A, English B, French, Home Management, Integrated Science, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Office Administration, Physics, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business, Social Studies, Spanish and Technical Drawing. The only subject with a pass rate below 50 % was Geography.
~~Adz:Right~~Education Minister Condor extended his heartiest congratulations to the students who have been successful, and to the teachers and parents of the students for these achievements.
In analyzing the CXC results, he observed there are a few subject areas identified, in which there were weak performances.
"Many of the weak performing subjects are subjects that typically cater to those students who are often considered to be of "higher ability," Physics, Chemistry, French and English B (Literature) are examples of those. It is therefore of great concern when these students fail," said Minister Condor, noting: "Our endeavour must be to ensure that the students, move from the margins to center stage in education."
He said that during this academic year, the Ministry will be engaging the respective schools in implementing strategies, that will become invaluable tools, in helping them to address these weak areas, and to attain the necessary competence.
It was also disclosed that there were 490 private candidates entry for 530 subjects and returned 290 passes for a pass rate of 54.7%. In Nevis, there were 179 candidates with 200 subject entries, of which 127 passing grades were returned, giving a pass rate of 53.5 %.
"As a Ministry we recognize and appreciate our social responsibility to provide for the Educational needs of our people; and are committed to make the decisions to do whatever is necessary, to build a relevant, productive and successful sector," Minister Condor concluded.
