The release of the 2025 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) results last week presents an important moment of reflection for Guyana’s education system. With 116 secondary schools participating and 12,685 candidates, the figures demonstrate both the scale of national engagement in education and the continued demand for academic advancement across the country. Subject entries totalled 80,556, highlighting the breadth of curriculum exposure among students preparing for higher learning or entry into the workforce.
The overall pass rate, recorded at 66.76 per cent for Grades One to Three at the General and Technical proficiencies, remained steady compared to the previous year. Stability in performance is notable, particularly in a system that continues to undergo reform and expansion. Yet, as the results reveal, national performance is far from uniform, pointing to areas where commendable progress has been made as well as schools where challenges persist.
Among the most encouraging outcomes is that 50 schools, representing 43 per cent of participants, improved their pass rates. Twelve schools maintained their previous levels, while 51, or 46 per cent, experienced declines. The figures highlight a dual reality: while almost half of the nation’s schools have managed to move the bar higher, an equally significant portion have slipped backward. This underscores the critical importance of sustained support and targeted interventions to ensure all students benefit from national investments in education.
The performance of first-time participants offers further grounds for optimism. Good Hope Secondary recorded a 75 per cent pass rate, while Yarrowkabra Secondary secured 64 per cent. These outcomes reflect strong foundational preparation and demonstrate that newly established institutions can quickly rise to national expectations with proper resources and community support. Similarly, New Central High School’s return to the examinations after a one-year hiatus was marked by an impressive 87 percent pass rate, a reminder that institutional recovery and resilience are possible with focused leadership and dedication.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand, in responding to the results, emphasised the role of expanded access to classrooms, trained teachers, and the universal distribution of resources such as textbooks, calculators, past papers, and practice tests. The continued provision of cash grants has further supported both students and teachers. These measures, the Minister observed, have contributed meaningfully to higher pass rates and matriculation, thereby widening post-secondary opportunities for Guyana’s young people. This acknowledgement points to the practical interventions that are producing tangible improvements.
Equally important, however, is the Ministry’s recognition of schools that have registered declines or stagnation. Addressing these shortcomings must be a priority. Teacher training, classroom infrastructure, and consistent monitoring remain vital areas requiring robust investment. Moreover, disparities between urban and rural institutions persist, and as such deliberate policy interventions are needed.
It is also worth noting the regional strengths that have emerged from this year’s results. Schools in Region Six, in particular, have recorded remarkable gains, reflecting the benefits of localised support and the strengthening of regional education management. This success should serve as a model for replication across other regions, ensuring that best practices are shared and adapted to diverse educational contexts.
The results further remind policymakers and the public alike that education is not only an individual achievement but a collective enterprise involving students, teachers, administrators, and families. Where this collaboration is strong, performance tends to follow. Where it is weak, the consequences are evident in declining outcomes.
Looking ahead, the challenge is not to celebrate steady or improved results but to build on them strategically. Stability in the national pass rate must be converted into upward momentum.
The Ministry of Education’s congratulatory message to students, teachers, and families is well deserved. Yet the broader lesson of the 2025 CSEC results lies in their dual narrative of success and struggle. Progress is visible. The future of Guyana’s education system rests on bridging gaps.
Education is the foundation upon which national development rests. The 2025 CSEC results provide both cause for celebration and a sober reminder of the work ahead.
