Exams abandoned: Students no-shows at high school exams

In a concerning trend, Major Michael Boyce, principal of the Deighton Griffith Secondary School, revealed a troubling increase in students who, despite having paid for their exams, are failing to show up.

This not only wastes valuable resources but also leaves parents questioning their investment in their children’s education, he told the school’s speech day on Wednesday.

The principal reported a 2.13 per cent increase in students who did not write examinations for which they were entered.

He said: “So every time the student is entered to do CXC, all we require is that the parent will pay $40. When you pay that $40 to leave, the school must then pay $36.00 or $37.50 for each exam. If your child is entered for five subjects, you pay $40, but we have to pay five times $36.50. If your child is entered for four or five subjects but does not turn up for two of those subjects, the money goes down the drain.”

Delivering the principal’s report, Major Boyce encouraged students to not just be entered for the exam but to do the work as well.

He said: “Very often it comes down to the case where they have not done the [school-based assessment assignments] despite all the pushing. Sometimes they claim they don’t remember they have an exam on that day, they didn’t check the timetable.”

He added: “This was after a decline to 7.2 per cent in 2023 compared to 8.7 per cent in 2022. Of course, our aim is that this percentage should be zero, and we do whatever we can to engage students and parents, guardians in this vein.”

On a more positive note, the principal reported a 1.9 per cent increase in the number of Grades I to III passes: “There was a 1.9 per cent increase to 70.3 per cent, up from 68.4 per cent.

“We still believe that this can consistently be at least 75 per cent and will strive for such.”

He explained: “Thirteen subjects, up from eleven in 2023, recorded improved performances. Once again, in eight subjects, 100 per cent of the candidates entered earned Grades I to III.”

Additionally, 20 students earned Grades I to III in five or more subjects, including English A and Mathematics. Likofi Cherry, Chanel Estrada, Trey Licorish, Evie Maslen, Aneisha Pilgrim, Jonica Ramparsad, Skyla Weithers, and Tyeisha Whitehall passed all seven subjects in one sitting, the principal reported.

Major Boyce announced that for the second time in four years, Deighton Griffith students were included on the CXC CSEC Merit List of the top ten students. Chanel Estrada and Evie Maslen earned this distinction in Textiles, Clothing, and Fashion. Estrada was the fifth best across the region, and Maslen placed tenth. “They were the only two students from Barbadian schools included,” said the principal.

(LG)