Several hinterland schools record above 50% CSEC matriculation rate – Min Manickchand

Several hinterland schools have achieved more than a 50 per cent matriculation rate at the recent Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination, while a few are yet to catch up.
The matriculation rate is students who obtained five CSEC passes inclusive of English Language and Mathematics.
The matriculation rate was 62.5 per cent for Santa Rosa Secondary; 57.8 per cent for Three Miles Secondary; 56.06 per cent for DC Caesar Fox Secondary; 67.7 per cent for Aishalton Secondary; 58.8 per cent for Annai Secondary; 53 per cent for Karasabai Primary Top; 66 per cent for Sand Creek Secondary and 52 per cent for St Ignatius Secondary.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand while delivering the results on Thursday last, shared that while there are successes, there is a need for improvement in schools such as Bartica Secondary.
“Right in Bartica, a stone’s throw away from Three Miles, 21 per cent matriculation rate. Same children, same air, same kind of food, what is it we must do to look more like Three Miles? What is it that they must do to make sure they look more like Three Miles?” she questioned.
Across the country, 12,118 students sat the CSEC examinations, an increase of 10,368 in 2022. There were 75,764 entries. Overall, the pass rate was 65 per cent this year – a decline from 68.5 per cent last year.
Outstanding performances – which translates to a pass rate of 80 per cent or more – were reported in 14 subject areas: Agriculture Science (Double Award), Agriculture Science (Single Award), Electronic Document Preparation and Management (EDPM), Family and Resource Management; Food, Nutrition & Health, Industrial Technology (Building), Industrial Technology (Electrical), Information Technology, Physical Education, Music, Physical Education, Religious Education, Technical Drawing, Theatre Arts and Industrial Technology (Mechanical).
Stable performances were noted in English, Mathematics, Technical Drawing, Caribbean History and Economics.
Declines were seen in Biology, from 82 per cent to 72 per cent, Human and Social Biology, from 73 per cent to 63 per cent, Physical Education and Sport, from 98 per cent to 88 per cent, and Portuguese, from 76 per cent to 62 per cent.
The Education Ministry is aiming to make universal secondary education a reality by 2025. Universal access to secondary education is the ability of all students to have equal education regardless of their social class, race, gender, sexuality, ethnic background, or geographic location.
The Government is eliminating primary tops, with the construction of several secondary schools across the country.
Schools to be built are the $1.9 billion Kopinang Secondary School (Region Eight); the $2.5 billion Hosororo Secondary School (Region One); the $2 billion Kwebanna Secondary School (Region One) and the $2 billion Jawalla Secondary School (Region Seven).
With the establishment of the new Jawalla Secondary School, the Ministry would be able to close the primary tops in Philippi, Wax Creek, Chinoweing, Imbaimadai, Jawalla, Quebanang, Kako and Kamarang.
The new Kwebanna facility will serve the villages of Kwebanna, Santa Cruz, Waikrebi, Chinese Landing, Kokerite, Kariako, Warapoka, Assakata, Unity Grant.
After being ravaged by fire, the North West Secondary School, Region One, is also being rebuilt.