About 40% of students failed to achieve proficiency
7:03 pm, Fri June 21, 2019
An average 40 per cent of students who sat the first Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations did not achieve the required competency. The results were released on Friday. More than 42,000 students were registered to sit the exams. The students were tested in Mathematics, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies. The results were particularly poor for Mathematics and Science where more than 50 per cent of the students did not achieve proficiency. Fifty-five per cent of students demonstrated proficiency or advanced proficiency in Language Arts and 36 per cent were at the developing level. Karl Samuda, Minister without portfolio with responsibility for Education, said 49 per cent of students who sat Science demonstrated proficiency or advanced proficiency in knowledge skills and competences required, while for Social Studies, 63 per cent of the students demonstrated proficiency or advanced proficiency. Mr. Samuda, who announced the scores on Friday at a media briefing at the Ministry of Education, said 94 per cent of students were placed in schools of their choice. More than 17,000 students got between their first choice and their third choice, with 7,854 students placed in their first choice school, another 5,493 placed in their second choice and 4,502 students receiving their third choice. ‘Crisis in education’ Oppostion Spokesman on Education Ronald Thwaites has said the PEP scores are disappointing. He said the 60 per cent deficit in Mathematics, 45 per cent deficit in English, 61 per cent deficit in Science and 37 per cent deficit in Social Studies represent a “crisis in education”. “It’s been germinating for a long time but it requires a complete rethinking of the primary school experience and it also requires some immediate remediation to ensure that the high school places are not extended in vain for those students who will be, at this point, entering with very little capacity to absorb what should be offered there,” he asserted. Reactions to PEP results The release of the PEP results was met with despair and jubilation among students, parents and teachers. RJR News visited some schools in the Corporate Area to get their reactions. At Wolmer’s Preparatory School, there was much anticipation as the countdown for the release of the PEP results drew closer and hopeful parents converged on the institution. At Allman Town Primary School, the atmosphere was similar. However, anxious parents complained about the long wait for the results. When the results finally came, that led to a mixture of emotions. Kevin Williams, who passed for St. George’s College, could only muster one word to describe how he felt: ‘good’. His mother, Deandra German, told RJR News she was proud of her son. She thanked his teachers for working with him throughout the year of preparation. But RJR News also observed a parent at Allman Town Primary who was unhappy with the PEP results, complaining aloud about the format of the exam. She declined to speak with our news team.
40% proficiency is a reflection on the ministry of education. Why all these changes? A bere confusion amongst teachers and parents alike complaining. 40% proficiency is not good. Needs to fixed asap.
No, it is a reflection on the parental input into the process. There is very little the ministry of education can do without strong parental input. If kids are not doing their homework, attending school on a regular basis, having access to proper meals or have the basic necessities for school, their success rate will be low. A lot of learning takes place outside the classroom or the school compound and sadly, a lot of parents do not have the skills or the drive to support their children. Stop assigning blame in the wrong direction.
Honestly, I expected this.
Why though?
No surprise here, the hard working parents needs to put pressure on the education system because it needs an overhaul many years now. Real life skills and basic education on trade, the economy, taxes, bank accounts, credit cards and the value of the Jamaican dollar needs to be taught. Parents also need to spend time with their children going over school work and getting more involved. I bet you in this 40% I can imagine how many of them have smart phones and knows everything about IG. Parents need to parent and be more involved in their children’s daily living, most of them is baby sitters and they are not parenting. What will be is another new generation of dunce, careless baby daddy’s and mommas with their drama and a higher crime rate even more ruthlessness that is now displayed.
The number (average) is more like 50% – 55%, not 40% of students failed to achieve proficiency! They are averaging the numbers to paint a better picture. the Social Studies 65% is skewing the average across all areas.
….60 per cent deficit in Mathematics, 45 per cent deficit in English, 61 per cent deficit in Science shows the problems in 3 main subject areas. The Education ministry makes up a large portion of the annual budget, yet we are not getting the bang for our bucks. A large segment of our student population are leaving both primary and secondary schools are barely literate.
If you cannot afford to send your kids to private schools at a very young age, you are at a great disadvantage.
The results are worst for black kids in the US, UK and Canada.