…secures 80 per cent pass rate at CSEC, highest in seven years

DEFYING the odds, North Ruimveldt Multilateral School secured an 80 per cent pass rate at the 2019 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations–a significant increase when compared to the 2018 pass rate of 66 per cent.

In an interview with reporters on Tuesday, Head-teacher of North Ruimveldt Multilateral School, Allison Cosbert, explained that since 2012, the school, located on Mandela Avenue, has shown marked improvements at the CSEC examinations; however, this is the first time in seven years that the school has performed this well.

Sitting in one of the classrooms, Cosbert noted that the school, which acquired ‘List A’ status in 2015, achieved a matriculation rate of 71 per cent in 2019 when compared to 32 per cent the previous year. That means 71 per cent of the 41 students that wrote the CSEC examinations passed five or more subjects inclusive of Mathematics and English Language. In 2017, the school had achieved a pass rate of 67 per cent and a matriculation rate of 23 per cent.

Noting that the school’s success is the result of teachers’ commitment and students’ determination to defy the odds, Cosbert disclosed that this year, students wrote CSEC examinations in 24 different subjects, of which 100 per cent passes were secured in 13 subjects.

The school acquired 100 per cent passes in English Language, Agricultural Science, Food Nutrition and Health, Textiles Clothing and Fashion, Family and Resource Management, Electronic Document Preparation Management, Information Technology, Principles of Business, Office Administration, Technical Drawing, Mechanical Engineering Technology and Building and Furniture Technology. It also achieved a 96 per cent pass rate in Social Studies, 93 per cent pass rates in Principles of Accounts and Economics, 92 per cent in Integrated Science, 87 per cent in Human and Social Biology, 86 per cent in Biology, 75 per cent in English Literature and Chemistry, 73 per cent pass rate in Mathematics, 68 per cent in Geography and a 60 per cent pass rate in Physics.

The head-teacher noted that while in other schools children are bogged down with lessons, the majority of the CSEC students at North Ruimveldt Multilateral School were taught in school. Cosbert noted too that emphasis was placed on Mathematics and English for that reason, 71 per cent of them were able to achieve passes in five subjects inclusive of these two primary subjects.

Cosbert disclosed too that this is the first time in the history of the schoolthat students wrote 11 subjects,and acquired passes in all. Topping North Ruimveldt Multilateral School at the 2019 CSEC examinations is Erykah Baptiste, who secured seven Grade Ones, and four Grade Twos. Baptiste secured Grade Ones in English A, Office Administration, Principles of Business, English B, Geography, Social Studies and Principles of Accounts. She acquired Grade Twos in Economics, E.D.P.M, Integrated Science and Mathematics.
Baptiste told reporters that her success was a result of strong support from her parents, and teachers, in particular Quesi Adams who went the extra mile to ensure that she and her colleagues utilised their time to study.

The aspiring accountant has applied to the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service (BCCPS) in pursuit of her dream. Explaining her reason for applying to the college, Baptiste said at a time when securing a job remains a difficult task due to a lack opportunities or extremely high requirements, the College, after laying a foundation, guarantees its graduates employment with the Public Service.

Johanna Davidson, who also wrote 11 subjects, obtained six Grade Ones, four Grade Twos and one Grade Three. While thanking her parents and teachers, Davidson said she would not have done it without the support of her colleagues. “I prayed a lot, and God helped me. He provided a lot of people along the way; I had a lot of lovely teachers throughout the five years. My colleagues, I couldn’t have asked for a better set of students to work with, and so I am glad and grateful that we all pass,” Davidson said.

She, like Baptiste, expressed special thanks to Quesi Adams. “He works and goes to the university, and he would come…and bring text books, or some work for us to do,” she said while noting that once Sir Quesi was around there was no idle time even during lunch.
Meanwhile, Daniel Wharton, an aspiring pilot, secured passes in nine subjects with Grade Ones in three, Grade Twos in four and Grade Threes in two. Describing himself as a “people’s person,” Wharton told reporters that his involvement in the Guyana National Cadet Corps as a Cadet influenced his drive for success.

His parents and teachers also played significant roles in his drive for success.
“My mom, she was always there for me. She went to the end; she went the extra mile and ensured that I got everything I needed…financially and spiritually, she helped me a lot, and the teachers also played a very important role, they helped us, and kept pushing us to do better,” he related. Wharton, 17, will also attend the Bertram Collins College but it is his primary goal to join the Guyana Defence Force, where he plans to pursue his career as a pilot.

The other top students are: Mikaela Foulkes (11 subjects), Shanique Morris (11 subjects), Savannah Austin (10 subjects), Faith Fraser (10 subjects), Aaliyah Trotman (9 subjects), Abigail Barkoye (9 subjects), Zishel Williams (9 subjects), and Shaquan Green (8 subjects).
Donnessa McDonald, a teacher at the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School, said the school’s achievement is testament of the school’s capability to perform alongside country’s top High Schools. She said that for too long North Ruimveldt Multilateral School has been stigmatised.

“When people hear about North Ruimveldt Multilateral they put us in a category…because they think we have a lot of fighting. Parents, would call me before their children are enrolled here, they are usually hesitant because I guess the school had a name back in the day but since it was commissioned as a ‘List A’ this is the first time we have so many students,” she noted.

According to her this year, 124 students enrolled into the school when in the recent pass less than a hundred came because their parents would transfer them. “But we have all teachers and we do get results…I know that out pass rate will be more than 80 per cent next year and the following years, because we have the students and we have teachers, and we are willing to try our best so that they can always excel at CSEC.
North Ruimveldt Multilateral School has a population of approximately 400 students.