It is my distinct pleasure for the third consecutive year to bring to you the Minister of Education’s National Report on the performance of students on the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), both offered by the Caribbean Examination Council – CXC. I do know that this report is always much-anticipated because it helps to give our citizens a sense of the accomplishments of our young men and women in the field of academics, and it provides a mechanism for gauging the effectiveness and efficiency of our education system.
The Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE)
As a reminder, CAPE is taken by students in the Division of Arts, Sciences and General Studies at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC), Basseterre, and at the Sixth Form of the Charlestown Secondary School, Nevis. Students write CAPE examinations at Unit 1 and Unit 2 in selected subject areas, usually taking Unit 1 in their first year of study and Unit 2 in their second year.
Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College
As I turn my attention to the CAPE results for the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, for the academic year ending 2012, 397 students registered for the CAPE examinations compared 372 in 2009, 456 in 2010 and 550 in 2011. Preliminary analysis shows that there has been a corresponding increase in the number of students enrolling in the Division of Technical and Vocational Education and Management Studies at the CFBC. Given the government’s focus on TVET, that is, Technical and Vocational Education and Training, in recent times, this is not surprising.
There were 1422 registered subject entries, 68 percent or 966 being Unit 1 courses, and 32 percent or 456 being Unit 2 courses. The disparity between the number of unit 1 and unit 2 entries, as indicated in my previous addresses may be indicative of significant repetition of unit 1 courses and/or drop-out at year 1 instead of continuing on to year 2. Of the 1422 subject entries, 1315 returned graded results.
Of the Unit 1 courses, the most popularly taken were Caribbean Studies, Economics, Environmental Science, Information Technology, Management of Business and Sociology. Significant entries were also registered in Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, Law and Pure Mathematics. Given the trend of performance in Mathematics throughout the Caribbean Region, it is quite heartening to point to 29 students at the CFBC and 16 at Charlestown Secondary School sitting the Pure Mathematics examination at CAPE. Least popular courses included French, Spanish, Literature, Physics, Art and Design, Geography, Literature, Computer Science and Applied Mathematics.
For Unit 2, the most popular courses were Economics, Environmental Science, Law, Management of Business and Sociology.
The following 8 subjects returned a 100% pass rate at CAPE Unit 1 for the CFBC: Applied Mathematics, Art and Design, Environmental Science, French, Literature, Physics and Spanish. The Unit 2 courses producing a 100% pass rate were the following: Art and Design, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Information Technology and Physics.
Of the 1422 registered subject entries at the CFBC for the 2012 examinations, 83.8% or 1191 entries returned a passing grade. This represents the highest pass rate over the last 4 years.
I wish to highlight, however, for the obvious reason, that the following courses attained less than a 50% pass rate: Information Technology Unit 1, Law Unit 1, and Spanish Unit 2.
The Ministry of Education wishes to strongly encourage high participation rates at CAPE in Foreign Languages, Mathematics and the natural sciences, in particular. These represent areas of challenge but as well opportunity for our young people.
Charlestown Secondary School Sixth Form
I now turn my attention to the 2012 CAPE results for Charlestown Secondary School – Sixth Form, where total of 138 candidates were registered for 564 subject entries. The number of candidates writing the CAPE exams at the CSS held steady over the passed two years but slightly lower than the 143 candidates entering in 2010, but the number is still significantly above the 2008 figure of 107 candidates. Of the total entries, 63.8% were Unit 1 entries while 36.2% were unit 2 entries. The variance between the number of Unit 1 and Unit 2 courses decreased from 56% in 2011 to 27.6% in 2012. This is a very positive development as it reflects greater participation in the Unit 2 courses and perhaps fewer repetitions of Unit 1 courses.
Of the 564 subjects entries registered for CAPE at the CSS, 537 returned graded results.
Popularly taken Unit 1 subjects were as follows: Accounting, Biology, Caribbean Studies, Communication Studies, Economics and Information Technology. On the other hand, at Unit 2, the popular subjects were Biology, Economics, Information Technology, Management of Business and Sociology.
For Unit 1, the following subjects attained a 100% pass rate: Accounting, Communication Studies and Spanish, whereas at Unit 2, Chemistry, French, Pure Mathematics and Spanish similarly achieved a 100% pass rate.
The overall pass rate for the 2012 CAPE examinations at the CSS stands at 81.5% compared to 74.2% in 2011. A pass rate below 50% was recorded Sociology Unit 1 only.
I wish to congratulate the students and lecturers at the Sixth Form of the Charlestown Secondary School and the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, Division of Arts, Sciences and General Studies for their diligence in most instances that has contributed to another year of sterling performance by our students. I commend the parents for their support.
As is customary, the declaration of the winner of the State Scholarship for 2012 will be made after a full determination is made on that matter.
Performance of Students on the Caribbean Secondary Level Certificate (CSEC)
CSEC or CXC O’Level is usually taken at the General and Technical Proficiency Levels by students in Form 5 of our secondary schools. In recent years, we have seen entries from students at lower forms as well.
The total number of candidates across all our schools sitting the 2012 June CSEC Examinations was 672. Exams were written in 32 subjects across all schools in both Nevis and St. Kitts. There were 3947 subject entries with 3078 entries returning passing grades for a national average pass rate at CSEC for 2012 of 78%, which equals the average pass rate over the three preceding years. In other words, the pass rate at CXC CSEC exams over the past 4 years has held relatively constant.
The Ministry is quite pleased that the following subjects have turned out 100% pass rates: Building and Construction Technology, Clothing and Textile, Mechanical Engineering and Physical Education & Sports. Pass rates of 90% and above were additionally realized in Agricultural Science, Biology, Economics, Electrical & Electronic Technology, Food & Nutrition, French, Home Economics, Office Administration, Physics, Principles of Business and Technical Drawing. School Departments responsible for these subjects ought to be highly commended for this outstanding achievement.
Over the last three years, there has been gradual and steady improvement in the following subject areas: History, English Literature, Technical Drawing and Visual Arts. Our disappointment with a pass rate of 58.3% in English Language, down from 83% in 2011, must be loudly registered, and my Ministry will seek to uncover the variables which led to this significant slippage.
Much has been said recently about students’ performance in Mathematics as the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) itself registered its alarm at the declining performance in the subject throughout the entire Caribbean Region, and in the process provided some guidelines for the improvement of the teaching and learning of the subject. While here in St. Kitts we are not satisfied with our students’ performance in the CSEC Mathematics examination, it must be pointed out factually that our pass rate in the subject for 2012 is 47.1% compared with 46.9% in 2011 and 47.8% in 2010. In other words, our performance has held relatively constant over the past three years. While we must continue to exert every effort to improve our standards where the subject of Mathematics is concerned, St. Kitts and Nevis was fortunate to have exceeded the regional pass rate of 33% by some 14 percentage points. This does not give us any comfort, but some measure of hope that we can in fact do much better in the future.
The Cayon High School entered 101 candidates for the 2012 CSEC exams in 26 subject areas. A 100% pass rate was registered in 9 subject areas. This is a significant improvement over the preceding years. Unacceptable performance is being observed in Visual Arts, Geography and Mathematics, all of which achieved pass rates below 35%. The extremely poor performance in Visual Arts at the CHS continues to attract adverse attention from the Ministry of Education.
I wish to commend the BHS and the WAHS for achieving examination pass rates of 85.4% and 87.0% respectively. Statistically, on this basis, these two schools are equal in academic output.
The Washington Archibald High School entered, 112, the highest number of candidates at any one school. The school returned a Grade 1 pass in 25% of all subject entries, which is highly commendable. A 100% pass rate was realized in 10 subject areas. No subject returned a pass rate below 55%.
At the Basseterre High School, 98 students offered themselves in 24 subject areas. A 100% pass rate was realized in 10 subjects and no subject returned a pass rate below 55%. . Notably, there was a 63% pass rate in Mathematics. The BHS achieved a Grade 1 pass in 26% of all subject entries
At the Charlestown Secondary School, there were 109 candidates in 28 subject areas. In all but one subject, namely Mathematics, a pass rate of over 50% was realised, with eight subjects obtaining a 100% pass rate.
The Immaculate Conception Catholic School entered 42 students in 20 subject areas. The school achieved in the 2012 CSEC exams a 100% pass rate in 11 subjects. Except for Principles of Accounts, all subjects registered a pass rate above 55%. Notably, there was a 60% pass rate in Mathematics.
Fifty-seven (57) candidates at the Gingerland High School offered themselves for the 2012 CSEC exams in 27 subject areas. A pass rate of 50% and above was achieved in all subject areas except Mathematics, Electrical & Electronic Technology and English Language. Nine subjects returned 100% passes. The significantly improved performance in History must be lauded whereas the slump in English Language in this year’s exams generates alarm.
At the Charles E Mills Secondary School at Sandy Point, 73 students sat exams in 25 subjects. Excluding Building Technology and Information Technology, there was a greater than 50% pass rate all in subject areas of which 7 attained a pass rate of 100%. A 20% decrease in the pass rate of Mathematics over 2011 must not escape the attention of the management of the CEMSS, although the pass rate remained above 50% in 2012. A pass rate below 20% in Information Technology is disconcerting.
There were 73 students taking the CSEC exams in 25 subject areas at the Verchilds High School. Ten subjects returned 100% passes. Except in Mathematics and Chemistry, a pass rate of 50% or more was attained across the board. The Ministry commends the VHS for the improved performance in Visual Arts but caution must be given in relation to Mathematics in which there was a 33% pass rate.
At the Lyn Jeffers School in Nevis, 7 students were entered in 11 subject areas. Only two subjects achieved a pass rate of 50% or above. There was a 100% pass rate in one subject matter – Electronic Document Preparation. Between English Language and English Literature there was no better performance than a 15% pass rate.
2012 Most Outstanding Candidates
St.Kitts and Nevis High Schools
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FIRST_NAME
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LAST_NAME
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SCHOOL
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PASSES
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DISTINCTIONS
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CHAUNTELLE
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HOBSON
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BHS
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13
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7
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DUANE
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WILLIAMS
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BHS
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11
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10
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ADIELLE
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CHIVERTON
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BHS
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10
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8
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JALEEL
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GRANT
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BHS
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10
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7
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ALPHEA
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BROWNE
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BHS
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9
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7
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BRENCIA
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SKEETE
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BHS
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9
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7
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ANDRELLE
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JEFFERS
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CEMSS
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10
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7
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NICOYANN
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BLACKETT
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CSS
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11
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10
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CHLOE JEWEL
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WILLIAMS
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CSS
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10
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10
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TAMEKA
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VYPHUIS
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CSS
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10
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9
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IMANI
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CAINES
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CSS
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10
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9
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CLAYTICIA
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DANIEL
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GSS
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12
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8
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JONELLE
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IRISH
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ICCS
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13
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11
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GALESHA
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HENRY
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VHS
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11
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9
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TIFFANY LATONYA
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HODGE
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VHS
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11
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8
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THÉRÈSE MELANDRA ZAKIYA
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WILSON-RAWLINS
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WAHS
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16
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14
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YENESIA
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HENRY
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WAHS
|
13
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11
|
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SIMONETH
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WILLIAMS
|
WAHS
|
13
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7
|
|
JUAN PABLO
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LYNCH
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WAHS
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12
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11
|
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KAYLA SAMANTHA
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FARRELL
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WAHS
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12
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10
|
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JENÉE
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WILLIAMS
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WAHS
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12
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9
|
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ANTONIO
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LAPLACE-MURRAIN
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WAHS
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11
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7
|
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ANDRÉ STEFAN
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HANLEY
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WAHS
|
10
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9
|
|
KAILA
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POWELL
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WAHS
|
9
|
7
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On behalf of the Ministry of Education and Information, and the entire government, I offer hearty congratulations to all of the outstanding students.
We await CXC’s ranking of the top ten students in St. Kitts and Nevis, as well as the recipient of the National CXC-US Embassy Award for 2012.
Conclusion
The 201-2012 academic year has been a very successful one. At CAPE, we have had slightly improved pass rates in both Nevis and St. Kitts over the past year. It is apparent however that much work needs to be done in a number of subject areas to ensure that our students get the very best chance of achieving success in their studies. At CSEC, we have had an unprecedented number of students performing exceptionally well. Their names have been mentioned above. Overall student performance has been acceptable. The Ministry takes note of the fact that English Language has registered relatively poor performance this year, 2012, and we envisage, with the improved vigilance from the Ministry, a quick turnaround of this trend.
Although the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has pointed to declining performance in Mathematics across the Caribbean, here in St. Kitts and Nevis, students have performed in 2012 in line with the trend in recent years. We point out however that in 5 of our 9 secondary schools, the pass rate in Mathematics stands below the 40% mark. Equally, we can point to schools where the pass rate in this arguably difficult subject matter turned out satisfactory results.
As we close this chapter of the 2011-2012 academic year, we look forward to another with great expectation. We intend to capitalize on our strengths and replicate our successes while working incessantly to conquer our areas weakness and promote even greater success among our students. Let us then continue to pray for even greater resolve and commitment on the part of our teachers and education sector managers. And may we work together as parents, educators and members of the wider society, for the continued improvement of the education system and the overall empowerment of our young people.
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May God bless us all!
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