UPDATE: Worrying education stats presented on VI's students
Passing rates at the Territory’s High School, while being described as much less than the failure rates, present some cause for concern especially given last year’s sharp increase in failures.
Statistics showed that over 12 percent of students (35) failed school leaving exams last year from a batch of 252 students. The previous two years showed that less than five percent had failed while less than 10 percent had failed in 2009-2010.
Education Officer Ms Connie George, while making a presentation titled ‘Filling the Gap’ noted that education reform remained ongoing within the Territory and said changes are inevitable.
Speaking on first time entrants at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC), George related that over a three year period (201), more than half of the students entering college required at least one pre-college course.
Additionally, a whopping 94 percent of students entering the HLSCC were reported as requiring pre-college Mathematics while nearly half (49 percent) required tutoring in pre-college English.
College administrators were ultimately forced to introduce a pre-college science course after it was revealed that 52 percent of students required two or more pre-college courses.
George told residents that while it was recognised that some good was being done with students, there were some obvious gaps that needed to be filled.
“The cause of the many shortcomings is definitely not limited to any one thing and efforts to improve education institutions, teaching and learning have been ongoing,” George stated.
It was in this vein that additional instructional time was being proposed as a remedy to combat the trends and assist in bettering the performance of students.
She further informed residents that a number of states in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, China and parts of the Caribbean have already increased their instructional hours.
See previous story posted February 19, 2014:
Residents reject gov’t proposal for extra high school year
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Despite the rains, a sizeable crowd turned out last evening, February 18, 2014 to hear of government’s proposal of an additional year to be introduced at high schools across the Territory. After hearing the presentations though, the majority opted to reject the proposal for various reasons.
The consultation with residents, held at the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall saw presentations from various education officials, including subject Minister Hon. Myron V. Walwyn.
Residents also heard from Education Consultant Dr Charles Wheatley, Principal of the BVI Technical & Vocational Institute Ms Germain Scatliffe, Registrar and Director of Enrollment Management at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) Dr Luverne Baptiste and Ms Connie George.
Scheduled to take effect from the new school term in September 2014, the changes propose increased hours of instruction as well as a revamping of the names attributed to levels throughout the school system from Class and Form to Grade. The changes are expected to be mandatory at private and public high schools across the Territory.
There will also be the insertion of a Grade 7 at the First Form level as the extra school year. Dr George informed listeners that First Form was traditionally referred to as Grade 8. The system will extend from Kindergarten – Grade 12.
The proposed changes are set to be implemented at the Third Form level from the new school term and are not expected to affect current Fourth and Fifth Form students.
Dr Wheatley spoke of past education reforms in the Territory and themes of nature and nurture and expressed that children do not learn if they are not mature for learning. He argued that proponents are trying to repair and redesign the school system so that students can get the best benefit from what is being offered.
“We must ensure that we do not design a system that is not going to break our children,” he said, “We are breaking the hearts of a lot of our children every day. A lot of us are doing that by the way we interact with them, the way we treat them, the way we speak to them…”
After the presentations, residents and radio listeners were allowed to give feedback and Lecturer and parent, Natalio D. Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru said he was still not convinced that the added year was a solution to the problem being experienced in the school systems. He compared it to a child being fed three meals per day and the child refusing to eat vegetables. He argued that the introduction of a fourth meal could not be a logical solution to the issue.
Sowande offerred that behavioural challenges were being experienced by some students at HLSCC, some of whom are students that slipped through the cracks of the educational system. He proposed that improvements be made in areas such as professional development and learning before attempting to correct a problem with the wrong solution. “I do not believe that the length of time has much to do with some of what is happening right now, it’s the quality of time,” Wheatley said.
One overseas caller said after listening to the presentations, she did not feel it was right to add an additional class at the High School level and suggested the additional year be added at the primary school level. She also criticised elements of the proposed curriculum and said students were not reading at their correct grade level at primary school. “All we are doing is socially promoting them, that’s why we have the problem in the high school…” she stated.
Done deal?
The caller, along with Sowande, also questioned whether the proposals were already a done deal and asked whether the input and feedback being received by residents would be given any weight in decisions being made.
Ms George addressed the issues by stating that the curriculum concerns as well as the implementation time were all part of ongoing discussions.
Another caller said she was unsure whether she was for or against the proposal but suggested some changes needed to be made to the approach taken by teachers and parents to education.
One educator who spoke in support of the proposed changes, said some of the best educational systems in the world have one thing in common which is the inclusion of an additional year in the school system. He said students would be better equipped morally, socially and cognitively to deal with the work they have to do with the planned changes.
Another educator however, stated that while great programmes that compared to other developed societies may be needed, early childhood education was the better approach to be taken. “We need to invest in effective early intervention so then we can deal with the individuals that have social issues, behavioural issues and academic issues,” she said.
Other residents voiced their disagreements and shared similar sentiments to those who had spoken previously as members of the audience in attendance applauded while they spoke to indicate their approval of the comments made.
A second meeting is scheduled for February 26, 2014 at 7:30PM to be held at the Catholic Community Centre in Virgin Gorda.
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48 Responses to “ UPDATE: Worrying education stats presented on VI's students”
wind toooo nuch. Go for it Educators
If children are not reading at the required levels, then this deficiency will impact negatively on their learning.
In the context of learning, adding one year to the curriculum only yields positive results if the students are motivated to learn
A word of caution to the parents: don’t hold the attitude that we have done it “this way” and see no need to change. Today there are greater educational demands on our children then when their parents were in school. In fact many of the parents cannot help their children with their homework.
Fixing the myriad shortfalls in our educational system requires more than window dressing. It demands a comprehensive reform in every aspect of the pipeline – from administrator, teacher and counselor to student.
Elementary stops at grade 6
1..It should not affect the students who are already in there on a five year path.
2...It would seem that persons who choose technical subjects will do a three year path, thats fine you will sign up for that...but if my child opt not to do that and continue on the senior plan of two years he/she should be able to do so...not because your course is for three years mine should automatically become three years....Depend on the profession you choose to be in you will know how many years you will be in a course.
3..If this is to take place it should in no way shape or form affect those students who are presently in the high school. It should begin at the end of primary school with a seventh grade(junior high). preparing students for the transition into the high school.
4...Stop putting the cart before the horse....Elmore Stoutt High is in need of a curriculum...This needs to be addressed YESTERDAY...when we check the secondary schools around the BVI each is doing their own thing...Hon. Walwyn this is where you should focus your efforts. Give the additional year some more time to be planned properly...
5. I have a child in the ESHS who has been working to ensure that he gets out in the 5 years he was told he needs to complete high school, why should he suffer because you people decide it should now be 6 years... now. You can't change my program midstream....lets those who are coming in know from the beginning you are entering a 6 year programme.
6. Where are the statics to back up the statements that the college says children aren't ready......Some won't be but we need to look at the majority....the same children make it through and graduate...what is the drop out rate???
7. I am here sitting laughing because like everything else the government of the day has already decided on their course of action and now they coming to the public....Who do you all really thing you're fooling.....You have heard, I hope this will cause you to now go back to the drawing board.
I think that children waste to much time from form one to three. The best solution, start them as early as possible. The counselours they have at Elmore Stoutt High. Has an important role in this, to play.
They can help the student to learn their potential and also their gifts and talent.
Start prepping them when they reach to form one.