BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – BASED on the Preliminary Results of the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate exam, Her Majesty’s Prison has reported that residents of that correctional institution have gained a 90% pass rate.
Though no formal results were presented on the residents’ performance at the exam, Superintendent of Prisons Junie Hodge had given SKNVibes that indication, which was based on information he received.
Hodge, speaking with this media house this morning (Aug. 30), stressed that the results speak well to the ongoing Rehabilitation Programme at the penitentiary.
“I must commend them for their performance even though I know it could have been better. I know it could have been better, but because we were doing some renovations and what’s not, their classes were curtailed at times.”
Over the years, HMP has produced many successful passes at the examination, including a 100% pass rate last year.
Though they do not have the full passes, Hodge said that “in spite of that, they did well”.
At the time of the interview, however, Hodge could not have identified the resident who had stood out at the examination, because he has not yet receive the official results.
“Well, the Education Programme is part of the Remedial Programme that we have ongoing for the prisoners, and it is going well. It is about changing the mindset of those who see life in a different and negative light.
“And if given the chance to perform and operate, they can do well under the circumstances. I know when the system is completed I will see the pass rate going up. We have one of the residents here who has 15 subjects, and we refer to him as their teacher.”
At a recent press conference, the Minister of Education, Hon. Shawn Richards, declared that the Federation’s pass rate at this year’s CSEC examination had seen a slight decline, but an increase was achieved at CAPE.
“For those persons writing CAPE, the national pass rate was 87.14% as compared to 85.75% in 2016, a slight improvement…On the other hand, the national pass rate for CSEC has been recorded at 75.71% this year and is a decline compared to the 82.83% pass rate attained in 2016.”
According to the Superintendent of Prisons, more than 10 prisoners sat exam.
