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More Students Pass CSEC Mathematics

By: , August 13, 2015

The Key Point:

The Ministry of Education is reporting an increase in the number of students who acquired grade one to three passes in Mathematics, as well as in 13 other subjects in the 2015 sitting of the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC).
More Students Pass CSEC Mathematics
Photo: Melroy Sterling
Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (second left), addresses a press conference about Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) results at the Ministry’s head office on Thursday (August 13). Also in attendance are (from left): Senior Advisor in the Ministry, Mr. Radley Reid; Chief Education Officer, Dr. Grace McLean; and National Numeracy Co-ordinator, Dr. Tamika Benjamin.

The Facts

  • Of the 23,639 public school candidates who sat the Mathematics examination, 14,657 or 62 per cent were awarded passing grades.
  • This is a 6.5 per cent increase over the 2014 results.

The Full Story

The Ministry of Education is reporting an increase in the number of students who acquired grade one to three passes in Mathematics, as well as in 13 other subjects in the 2015 sitting of the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC).

Of the 23,639 public school candidates who sat the Mathematics examination, 14,657 or 62 per cent were awarded passing grades. This is a 6.5 per cent increase over the 2014 results.

This was revealed by Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, at a press conference, held at the Ministry’s Heroes Circle head office, on August 13.

Last year, 56 per cent of the Grade 11 cohort passed the examination, recording the largest overall improvement in the subject area, from 42 per cent in the previous year.

Rev.  Thwaites said this sustained improvement is significant, considering the challenges faced with the subject.

“The fact that we are beginning to see a consistent improvement in the Mathematics examination at the CSEC level is good news for those candidates, for the future of education and indeed for Jamaica,” he added.

There was also a significant increase of 16.7 per cent in Agricultural Science (double award) and of 5.8 per cent in Agricultural Science (single award). Principles of Business recorded a 12.6 per cent increase and Office Administration saw a 10.2 per cent increase.

Sixty-five per cent of the 26,419 candidates who sat the English A examination passed, resulting in a 1.4 per cent decline from last year.

Rev. Thwaites, however, commended the Ministry for modernizing the instructional method of teaching English A, which he said is expected to provide the needed arc of improvement.

Some Science subjects also recorded a decrease in the number of passes over last year.

The Minister said there needs to be an increase in the number of students who sit the Mathematics and English A examinations, pointing out that the policy is that all students must sit an exit examination in the areas.

He further reported the level of performance for students who sat the City & Guilds, which is a United Kingdom vocational and technical qualification examination, as well as for the National Vocational Qualification of Jamaica (NVQJ).

Seventy-one per cent of Grade 11 students who sat the City & Guilds obtained a passing grade in Mathematics and 60.6 per cent for English. For students from the Career Advancement Programme (CAP), the passes were 60.6 per cent and 78.3 per cent, respectively.

Of the 5,712 students who sat the NVQJ, 42 per cent obtained Level 1 and Level 2 certification.

Last Updated: August 13, 2015

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