No new schools to offer CAPE next year

The Education Ministry on Monday said it has no plans to add more schools to the list of existing ones that offer the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).
This is according to the Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Murtland Haley. In a brief interview with this newspaper on Monday, Haley said no such plans were discussed. He, however, assured that if the Ministry so decides, the information will be shared with the media.
The PRO reminded that this year for the very first time, students in Linden sat the examinations at the Christianburg Wismar Secondary.
Statistics shared by the Ministry on CAPE results showed that nine students sat 25 subjects in total during the exam at that secondary school. Further, a pass rate of 92 per cent was recorded there.
In Guyana, only 15 centres allow students to sit CAPE. These centres are found in only four of the 10 administrative regions.
These regions and the centres are: 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) – Mackenzie High School, Christianburg Wismar Secondary; Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) – Berbice High, New Amsterdam Secondary, Guyana Private; Four (Demerara-Mahaica) – President’s College, Bishops’ High, Queen’s College, St Joseph’s High, St Rose’s High, St Stanislaus College, Marian Academy, Adult Education Association and Chase’s Academy; Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) – West Demerara Secondary School.
This year, during the months of May and June, 880 candidates from 10 secondary schools and five private institutions wrote the examinations in Guyana.
Last year, 923 entries were received. Some 4224 subject entries were recorded in 2018 while 4223 were received this year. A pass rate of 93 per cent was maintained.
This year, results for CAPE and the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) examinations were announced on August 14.
An increase was noted in the number of candidates securing Grades One and Two passes, as students obtained a 100 per cent pass rate in 31 units along with 75 per cent or more in another 30 units.
Bishops’ High secured this year’s best overall pass rates, having attained 98.44 per cent, within the public school system. Meanwhile, the Saraswati Vidya Niketan private school achieved a 100 per cent overall pass rate.
The Ministry had listed former top CSEC performer Michael Bhopaul of Queen’s College as best CAPE student. Bhopaul secured Grade One passes in eight units, however, it was later disclosed that Shanomae Milling of St Rose’s High School is this year’s top student.
Milling, according to the Ministry, wrote 11 units and achieved nine grade ones and two grade twos.