I'm baffled at how Education Minister Tim Gopeesingh came to the conclusion that there is a "high failure rate at CAPE." According to National Test resultsquoted by the minister, about 6,500 students pass five or more subjects at CXC. Less than 50 per cent of these students will go on to write CAPE. Many choose to join the workforce after writing CXC. Some even do SATs and go abroad to study in the US and Canada instead of writing CAPE. Therefore,if we assume that 3,000 students write CAPE annually, about 67 per cent of students are passing CAPE (2,000 students).
Of greater concern is that, according to the minister, 10,000 of the 17,000 students entering secondary school fail topass five subjects at CXC. More than 50 per cent of our students are exiting secondary school without basic qualifications. I suggest the minister focuses on this instead of lamenting about CAPE. We need to improve the capacity of out teachers to motivate underachieving students. Training on how to handle any learning disabilities and behavioural problems, which present a growing challenge, is also key.
A Granderson
Via e-mail
