Primary Schools in St. Elizabeth Celebrate PEP Results

Primary schools in St. Elizabeth are celebrating significant improvements in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examination results this year.

There has been a notable increase in both the quality of scores and secondary school placements.

Mountainside Primary School is among those revelling in the success of the 44 students who sat the PEP examination.

Principal, Eric McLean, told JIS News that of the 44 candidates, the school achieved a balanced placement across various high schools, with four students placed in Hampton School, two in Munro College, three in St. Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS), one in Edwin Allen High, one in Belair High, three in B.B. Coke High, 11 in Newell High, eight in Maggotty High, three in Lewisville High, six in Lacovia High, and two in Black River High.

“In terms of this year’s results, 17 of the 44 students scored Highly Proficient to Proficient for Mathematics; 25 scored Highly Proficient to Proficient for Science; 27 scored Highly Proficient to Proficient for Social Studies, and 26 scored Highly Proficient to Proficient for Language Arts,” Mr. McLean shared.

Mountainside Primary’s top performer, St. Paul McDonald, achieved a remarkable placement score of 371.2, followed closely by Head Girl, Tiandra Lee with 363.4.

In addition, Najaunia Lewis got a placement score with 362.9; Deputy Head Boy, Jacquan Williamson, 362.1, and Deputy Head Girl, Shantae Davis – 349.8.

Mr. McLean attributed the school’s success to the collaborative effort of teachers, parents and the community.

Special initiatives, such as extra classes and support from the Ministry of Education and Youth, were also crucial to the outcomes attained.

The Principal said the school plans to continue this momentum by conducting a three-week summer school programme to prepare the new crop of grade six and grade five students for the next PEP examination.

“Also, we are doing interventions with the assistance of the guidance counsellor for our students, especially our boys, to help them stay focused on their schoolwork. We are making a lot of progress with this; parents are involved as well. So we are trying from all angles to let our students be in the right frame of mind,” Mr. McLean outlined.

“We’re going to reflect over the summer as well to see what other plans we can put in place to increase the reading and numeracy among our students,” he added.

Black River Primary and Infant School also reported outstanding results, with Principal, Sharon Whyte, pointing out that 106 of the 131 students (80 per cent) placed in Pathway One, which indicates a satisfactory performance.

The school’s students will be attending secondary institutions such as Hampton School, Munro College, STETHS, Black River High School, Manchester High School, Lacovia High School, and Manning’s School.

“For Mathematics in PEP, 94 students of the 131 students scored as Highly Proficient to Proficient. For Language Arts, 104 students scored as Highly Proficient and Proficient. For Science, 115 students scored as Highly Proficient and Proficient,” Ms. Whyte informed.

She pointed out that the school’s success continues to hinge on the dedication of the teaching staff as well as the increased involvement of parents.

Ms. Whyte said the institution has already begun planning additional interventions for Mathematics and Science in the upcoming academic year.