Dismal scores persist for nat’l exams

The Nassau Guardian

While student performance improved marginally in more than half of the 27 Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) exam categories, on average students have continued to earn Ds and Es in English language and mathematics, respectively, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Education yesterday.

According to the results, 588 students received at least a grade of C or above in maths, English language and a science.

This represents a five percent increase over the 561 students who achieved that mark last year.

At a press conference at the Ministry of Education yesterday, Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald added that the percentage of students who achieved grades between A and C in BGCSEs declined from 48.57 percent to 46.49 percent.

He said the highest percentage of any grade awarded was C at 26 percent.

“Last year, during the press release of the results, I indicated that we in the ministry were concerned about the performance of our students in BJC (Bahamas Junior Certificate) and BGCSE mathematics,” Fitzgerald said.

“This year, we are pleased to note the improved performance at both levels and sincerely hope that this trend continues.”

There were improvements recorded in 16 of the BGCSE subjects tested.

Those include book-keeping, accounts, clothing construction, electrical installation, English language, graphical communication, literature, music, physics, mechanics, combined science, commerce, French, religious studies, maths and office procedures.

Results in art and design scheme C remain unchanged from 2013.

Other subjects where there was a decline in performance include art and design scheme A, history, keyboarding skills, art and design scheme B, biology, carpentry and joinery, chemistry, economics, food and nutrition and Spanish.

In total, 922 students achieved a C grade or above in five or more BGCSE subjects, compared to the 996 students in the previous year, representing a 7.43 percent decrease.

In 2012, 947 achieved those grades; in 2011, 937; in 2010, 921; in 2009, 834 and in 2008, 824 students received those grades.

A total of 1,545 students earned a D grade or above in at least five subjects, compared to the 1,626 students in 2013.

This represents a 5.98 percent decrease.

There were 1,594 students who achieved this in 2012; 1,554 students in 2011 and 1,582 students in 2010.

There was a marginal increase in the percentage of G grades awarded, according to the statistics.

“I wish to admonish our students as they begin their 2014-2015 academic pursuits to continue to strive for excellence,” Fitzgerald said.

“Embrace the opportunities available to you. Hard work does pay off. The journey of a thousand miles certainly begins with a first step. With God’s help you can succeed.”

According to Fitzgerald, 6,789 candidates registered to sit the BGCSE exams, a decrease of 4.92 percent compared to the 7,117 candidates registered in 2013.

Asked about the reason for the near five percent decrease in participation this year, Education Director Lionel Sands said more students in grades 10 and 11 took BGCSE exams last year.

Regarding the BJCs, approximately 8,987 candidates registered to sit the exams.

The average for eight of the 10 BJC subjects improved when compared to 2013.

These subjects include art, craft study, general science, family and consumer science, maths, religious studies, social studies and technical drawing.

Results declined in English language and health science, according to the results.

Maths is the only subject that improved by a letter grade from E to D+, which is the best result in the last decade, according to Fitzgerald.

The letter grade for the other nine subjects remained unchanged.

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