IF there is one thing that the recent trend of Caribbean Secondary School Examination Certificate (CSEC) results have demonstrated, it is that the attainment gap between our Guyanese students and their regional counterparts have been systematically closing.
It is an established fact that under the previous PNC regime our students, both at national and regional examinations, were underperforming to a point where Guyana was ranked among the worst performing countries in the Caribbean.
The relevant question is why is it that our students who are known to be as bright as any in the Caribbean had such low attainment levels? The problem clearly was not the cognitive or intellectual level of our students but the fact that the education system under the PNC regime had failed our students and to an astonishing degree and had in fact stood in the way of the realisation of their full academic potential.
There was a time when more than 50 per cent of our students who sat the CSEC examinations failed to obtain acceptable pass grades. The situation was particularly worse in the two critical subjects of Language Arts and Mathematics so necessary for matriculation purposes and for employment in the public service. That was indeed a shame of monumental proportions and a serious indictment on the then PNC regime.
Today all of that has changed. Guyanese students all across the country are recording extraordinary performances at the CSEC and the CAPE examinations. Quatam Heralall and Ramoll Baboolall of Anna Regina Multilateral School were named the country’s top students with the most grade ones at CSEC while Bhedesh Persaud from Queen’s College scored the most Grade Ones at CAPE. What is particularly noteworthy was the fact that such stellar performances were replicated in every region of the country and from both public and private schools.
In a congratulatory message, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali urged those who excelled to remain focused and to understand that such achievements are just the beginning of a long road ahead. For those that have not performed as well as expected, he reminded them that they are still young and can still achieve much. The world, he said is filled with opportunities.
“At 15, 16, 17 years old the world is still filled with opportunities. You will have other opportunities. You will have other chances, do not be discouraged. Do not lose focus. Do not be disheartened but find strength in understanding that you are still young. You could rewrite your exams if you choose to go into an area with skill development, an area in which you want to advance your technical capabilities. Look for opportunities equal to what you’re most comfortable with and work towards ensuring that you too fulfill your desires and ambitions,” the President said.
According to Howard Gardner, a developmental psychologist, there are several domains of intelligence. He came up with the theory of ‘multiple’ intelligence which in effect suggested that people are not born with all the intelligence they will ever have. The relevance of such theory in the context of examination successes is that children are endowed with several layers of intelligence which are manifested in different forms of competencies.
The fact is that there is a close correlation between education and development and any improvement in the attainment level of our students whether at the primary, secondary or tertiary levels must be welcomed. The development of our human capital takes on added significance in the context of our emerging oil and gas economy which requires a different skills-set than was hitherto the case.
The PPP/C administration has been investing heavily in the education sector and from all indications such investments are paying dividends. Significantly both Language Arts and Mathematics showed significant improvements in acceptable pass grades.
But as mentioned earlier, the improvement in pass grades go well beyond individual or institutional successes and redound in the final analysis to the overall good of the society as whole by way of the development of human capital so vital to catapult this nation of ours to even greater heights.
