1600 students moved from Primary Tops for better opportunities – Manickchand

Expanded capacity at the secondary level to accommodate more students has led to 1600 children being removed from the Primary Tops institutions, where they can now acquire a higher quality education.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand underscored during the recent announcement of the National Grade Six Assessment results that the Ministry has opened capacity at secondary schools across the country.
This year, the Ministry expanded the number of children entering the secondary school system. Originally, 120 seats would be awarded to Queen’s College; the figure has now increased to 167. Admission to The Bishop’s High School increased from 100 to 145; along with 100 to 120 to St Stanislaus College. This pattern was adapted in other schools where there was vacant space.
The Primary Tops were created as an extension of primary schools, in events where the secondary capacity is exhausted. However, now, these students will get a “better chance”.
“A Primary Top is where there is no space. The Government doesn’t have any space to put you in a secondary school so you finish primary school, you go back to the primary school and we call it a secondary programme. That is not conducive to secondary education. This year, we’re giving 1600 children a better chance,” the Education Minister outlined.
To bolster this capacity, additional resources and trained teachers will accompany this expansion. Manickchand emphasised that such plans move Government one step further in offering universal secondary education regardless of the school or location.
“This year, we are beginning and I commit to you personally that you will be able to have an enriching, fulfilling, solid education at any secondary school you go to because that will be our effort. We’re dedicating ourselves to that. We’re dedicating ourselves with vigour. I am not talking about 20 years down the line. I’m talking about now. You will see changes in secondary education that will mean you’re not a failure if you didn’t get one of the top schools.”
Before the ending of 2021, the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) will be offered in several other schools. They include West Demerara Secondary, Anna Regina Secondary School and JC Chandisingh Secondary School.
“Before next year, you are going to see CAPE introduced to about seven more schools in this country…Those are some of the improvements. We’re looking at the physical plan. I was shocked walking around these schools to see how shabby they had become,” she stated.
In 2019, the Ministry had taken a decision to include additional schools to the list that offers CAPE. At that time, only 15 centres had allowed students to study at this level, and only in four of the 10 administrative regions.
For 2021, the candidate and subject entries for CAPE measured 27,715 and 110,020, respectively. It was the lowest cohort in four years. Nevertheless, 88 per cent of students received acceptable grades, higher than the Region’s 87 per cent. (G12)