| The shortage of trained Mathematics teachers in the public education sector has resulted in another year of unsatisfactory performance in the critical subject area at this year’s sitting of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination.Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Pulandar Kandhi, emphasised this point last Friday when the results were unveiled.According to Kandhi, candidates’ performances in Mathematics continue to be an area of immense concern to the Education Ministry, although there has been an increase in the grade one to three pass rate when compared to last year.The overall performances in Mathematics saw a disappointing 31.46 percent of the candidates passing the subject this year. The subject, as a result, falls among five other areas in which unsatisfactory performances were recorded. Other subject areas of concern include Caribbean History which saw a 43.76 percent pass rate, English B (38.4 percent), Geography (44.75 percent), Information Technology – General (12.5 percent) and Electrical and Technology (49.81 percent).But although poor performances in Mathematics is a reflection of the shortage of teachers in that area, Kandhi related that there is no single cause for poor performances in the other subject areas which fell within the unsatisfactory category.“I want to suggest that there is no single causation for poor performances. There are many variables. You could find in one class you have some students doing very well, some are average and some don’t do well at all. Then we have to find what is the cause, there may be multiple causations,” Kandhi speculated.However, he admitted that the school system does in fact have weaknesses in its capacity as it relates to the absence of trained teachers in many schools. And this he said is a problem which the Ministry is earnestly trying to overcome. According to Kandhi, the delivery of public education is impeded by the constant migration of trained teachers and graduates from the University of Guyana.In recognition of this dilemma, the Permanent Secretary revealed that efforts are being made incrementally to build on little gains.According to Minister within the Ministry, Dr Desrey Fox, the Ministry is not prepared to simply “throw its hands up into the air” but rather has been working on measures to help reduce the incidence of migration.“Upgrading really is uppermost in our minds, and we are trying to do that so that teachers can have a bit more confidence and self-esteem to be able to deliver the curriculum at school.”Dr Fox pointed out that while remuneration is a crucial factor to retain teachers, other factors also include providing them with the skills to be better able to carry out their duties during school hours.And as part of this process she said that the issues of improved teaching tactics and absenteeism will be addressed even as a clampdown is imposed on the teaching of extra lessons as a means of garnering extra finances.In the face of this development and in recognition of the fact that students may undertake more subjects that can be taught during school hours, the Minister disclosed that the Ministry has taken a decision to restrict the number of subjects students can write to a maximum of eight.However,NBA Jerseys China, specially gifted students may be exempted, according to Permanent Secretary,NFL Jerseys Outlet, Kandhi. “Once they can demonstrate the capacity by grade nine to do 11, 12 or 15 subjects, no one will bar them. There is no intention to curb anything, it is a question of trying to regulate it in a way that we could have better performance and concentration on core subject areas.”And as a reflection of some of the measures already being implemented by the Education sector to improve the system, there has been a significant increase in the pass rate of English A. Last year there was a 27.97 percent pass rate in the grades one to three category which has mounted to 50.29 percent this year. There has also been a 78.86 percent pass rate this year in the grades one to four category of the subject up from 57.94 percent last year.Based on the recently unveiled results, it is evident that candidates have done very well in the usual fields. Candidates from Guyana were offered 36 subjects at the examination of which the results indicated excellent performances in 17 subjects where the grades one to three passes exceeded 75 percent.The 17 subjects areas are: Agriculture Science (DA), Agriculture Science (SA), Chemistry, Clothing and Textiles, Information Technology (Technical), Food and Nutrition, Home Economics, Management, Human and Social Biology, Music, Integrated Science,nhl jerseys outlet, Physics, Principles of Business, Social Studies, Typewriting, Theatre Arts, Electronic Document Preparation and Management and Physical Education and Sport.Satisfactory performances were recorded in 13 subjects namely: Biology, Economics,Soccer Jerseys From China, English A, French, Office Administration,Cheap Jerseys Online, Principles of Account, Religious Education, Spanish, Technical Drawing, Visual Arts, Building Technology (Const.),Wholesale NFL Jerseys, Building Technology (Woods), and Mechanical Engineering Technology.In each of the subject areas, the Grade One to three passes exceeded 50 percent while grades one to four passes were in excess of 75 percent. |
