BASSETERRE, St. Kits – CONCERNS that students of the Basseterre High School would not be able to sit end-of-term examinations have been allayed by Principal of the learning institution Bishop Ron Collins.
SKNVibes spoke with Collins this afternoon (Nov. 12) and said he too had heard the rumour and sought to explain what recently transpired that may have given rise to the concerns.
Collins indicated that for the past two years the Basseterre High School, much like other high schools across the island, had not been having end-of-term examinations and a decision was taken to reintroduce the practice for the current school term.
He however stated that because certain measures were not in place, a further decision was taken to postpone the reintroduction of the end-of-term examinations.
“We don’t always have end-of-term exams. Generally, we used to have end-of-term exams for the entire school. That would be at the end-of-term one, because term two is very short and has a lot of interruptions with sports. But over the last two years, Basseterre High School has not done the end-of-term examinations. This year we were looking at reintroducing it; however, even though it was on the schedule of events, we decided not to do it.”
In the absence of the end-of-term examinations, Collins informed that the school/faculty relies on regular assessment of the students.
“However, we are increasing the accountability to parents in terms of the mark sheet. We’ve been introducing progress reports and so on…We would continue what we have been doing, which is providing midterm marks, one of which was due October 16 and one is due November 20. So there is continual assessment being done at all levels and across all classes. And so parents have been meeting with the teachers to get an update on progress reports of students.”
The Principal said the fact that end-of-term examinations are not being given does not mean that the various departments do not and could not have their students sit exams.
“Now that the fifth formers are being affected, subject areas would make their own determination if they are going to give mock exams or if they are going to give any kind of common exams. Some of them will be doing it but, generally, the school will not be doing end-of-term exam. This is the current practice at several other high schools and I will invite you to check and find out.”
