Holland High Principal Hails Improvement in Student Achievement

As the Holland High School in Trelawny celebrates its 10^th anniversary this year, Principal of the institution, Pauline Reid, is hailing the significant improvement in student attainment over the years.

She said during the first few years only one-fifth of the grade 11 cohort each year, was able to sit the Caribbean School Examination Certificate (CSEC). “Now, we have 100 per cent of our students writing CSEC,” she told JIS News.

She informed that the school had a100 per cent pass rate in seven subjects in 2010 and 2011, which has improved to 100 per cent passes in eight subjects since then.

Mrs. Reid, who has been Principal since the school opened its doors in May 2005, also boasted of an 80 per cent pass rate in English Language since 2010.

She said there is no screening for CSEC English Language as the administration firmly believes that every student should write the subject.

“We have students, who are matriculating for tertiary level training…we even have a student, who started out with us (as a student) and is currently a member of staff,” she told JIS News.

Mrs. Reid, who is a former LASCO Principal of the Year, is commending the academic staff for the work they have done in improving student learning and achievement.

She said the successes would not have been possible without the full commitment and participation of the teachers.

“Improved student learning remains our central focus and with the commitment of our teachers, we have students, who have been making significant strides,” she said.

The institution, located in Martha Brae, has a student population of 1, 029, with 31 enrolled in the sixth form programme.

Mrs. Reid said the 50-member academic staff is “very competent and qualified,” 46 of whom are trained graduates, and the other four pursuing their first degrees.

“We have 10 members of staff with Master’s (degrees) and three pursuing their Masters. When you look at our administrative staff, there is only one…who doesn’t have a first degree,” she noted.

The Holland High School is ranked among the top five high schools in the parish of Trelawny in terms of academic performance.

The 10^th anniversary is being observed under the theme: ‘Excellence in stewardship for a decade and beyond’. Activities got underway on February 8 with a church service.