Thousands of primary school students are expected to write the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination (BSSEE) on Tuesday, May 7.
A total of 3,382 students will sit this year’s examination, also known as the 11-Plus or Common Entrance Exam. That figure is down 44 students compared to last year.
According to the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, this number comprises 1,766 males and 1,616 females, who are registered to write the examination at 22 secondary schools across the island. This year, 14 students have requested permission to write the examination at an early age (that is at 10 years).
The ministry has also reported that 103 students have made requests to be deferred from writing the BSSEE until 2020. Of those, 84 were granted permission to defer. Forty students have also been granted exemptions from writing the examination.
Additionally, there have been 106 special requests made by parents on behalf of their children. These were mainly for extra time, enlarged print and breaks for snacks.
The BSSEE will also be taken by 142 non-nationals, who have met the immigration requirements.
As a result of the May 7 exam, the Ministry of Education has advised that there will be no classes for students who attend secondary schools on that day, as these facilities will be used as examination centres. The BSSEE will begin at 9 a.m. and finish at 1 p.m.
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@Susan Maynard - you may have a point. Maybe this is also y the boys always seem to struggle and trailing behind the girls.
@CCC - What system is dat?? education, social, justice, religious, which one? Well let me inform you that the education SYSTEM from kinder garden upward is the first of many trappings. You cannot ride on someone else's elephant and expect to get the same feeling of euphoria. Because the elephant is not your own. That just does not happen.
Additionally, there have been 106 special requests made by parents on behalf of their children. These were mainly for extra time, enlarged print and breaks for snacks.
I hope the little boy from Rices whose Grandmother was murdered gets some extra time. But how on earth can you grant a child permission breaks for snack. That's like being in a boxing match and asking for a breather.
@Carson. It is too late, the wedge is already driven in our society. The British realized as early as 1965 that the eleven plus was causing a "Wedge" in their society so they abolished it in 1976, the same thing should have been done here.
@ Susan. " Girls do better than boys etc ..." The 11 plus benefit early learners and research has shown that girls on average mature earlier than boys. However, by the age of 18 their marks are about the same.
CARSON C the C says...."Even though the system is stacked against you in favour of WHITE BAJAN AND INDIAN MUSLIM children".....a system that was here BEFORE INDEPENDENCE.
Remembered the time I got TOP MARKS and was INTERVIEWED at HC but ended up at CAWMERE because my father was a TAILOR and was probably thought that he couldn't have afforded to pay the SCHOOL FEES back then.
Susan Maynard
You cant see the wood for the trees.
We have to stop driving this wedge down the middle of our race. This is what other races in Barbados are using against us.
Just answering , Male 1,766 Female1,610 that doing the exam do you feel that this is fair to give the male lower mark to get in a secondary school and the female has to get highter mark to get to the same school.O please do not tell me girls do better than boys because this is modern times now.
All the best in your exams children.
Even though the system is stacked against you in favour of WHITE BAJAN AND INDIAN MUSLIM children.