In previous years, the minister of education usually compared the overall SEA results of the current year with the previous year by providing figures on the number of students who scored 30 per cent or less, as well as the number of students who scored above 50 per cent, above 60 per cent, and above 90 per cent.This year, however, we were only told that the number of students receiving 30 per cent or less overall had decreased from 14.6 per cent last year to 9.9 per cent this year.
And even the 14.6 per cent figure seems to be incorrect since last year it was reported in the media that 1,680 students scored 30 per cent or less out of the 17,835 students who wrote exam. The correct figure for last year should therefore be 9.4 per cent not 14.6 per cent.Since 18,039 students wrote this year's exam, this means that more students (both numerically and on a percentage basis) scored 30 per cent or less this year compared to last year which suggests a decline in performance this year. Is this why the minister withheld this year's figures from the public? Inquiring minds would like to know.
Reynold Stone
via e-mail