– Kandhi
PERMANENT Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Phulander Kandhi has said there is no single reason for students’ poor performance in some subject areas at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

Speaking at a recent forum, at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), in Kingston, Georgetown, he pointed out that, in certain classes, some students did well, others were rated average and the rest poor.

Overall, their showing in grades one to three in six subjects was below 50 per cent, Kandhi revealed.

He reported the results as Caribbean History (43.76 per cent), English B (38.4 per cent), Geography (44.75 per cent), Information Technology, General (12.50 per cent), Mathematics (31.46 per cent) and Electrical and Electronic Technology (49.81 per cent.)

According to Kandhi the undesirable showing resulted from a lack of trained teachers at many of the schools where candidates did not excel in those disciplines.

He said, however, that, though the results in Mathematics are unsatisfactory, taking into account grades one to three, it represents a slight increase over last year.

Kandhi said that indicates that the Ministry is working diligently to address the deficiencies, the other subject areas, as well.

Migration
He said, too, that the high migration rate of trained teachers is another cause for the undesirable situation.

Kandhi said the Ministry has been aggressively training and upgrading teachers to not only correct the problem but ensure the quality delivery in the school system.

He said, despite the results, this year, 63.7 per cent of the candidates attained passes in grades one to three as compared to 57 per cent last year.

Passes in grades one to four were also better, recording 83.25 per cent, more than the 78. 67 per cent the previous year.

Minister within the Ministry, Dr. Desrey Fox said, apart from training teachers to address the migration issue, which is a priority, emphasis is being placed on improving their teaching in the classroom and their attendance.

She said the Ministry wants teachers to deliver their syllabus in school, not teach one part in class and the rest at lessons for pay after classes.

Fox said many hold the view that teachers are not performing because they are not adequately remunerated but it is not the only cause.

She contended that the teachers have to be taken care of in other ways, including giving them encouragement, confidence and skills to perform in the classroom.

Fox said the Ministry has been working to address those concerns.