Barrouallie seventeen on Prime Minister’s list

“We have 17 students on the PM’s list!” This, from an obviously exultant Glasley Lewis, principal of the Barrouallie Secondary School.

Lewis was speaking with Searchlight on Monday about his school’s performance in the 2005 CXC CSEC (Certificate of Secondary Education) examinations. He was referring to the promise by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves to reward all students of secondary schools who obtain at least five passes (which must include Mathematics and English A) at CSEC with $500.00.{{more}}

The school obtained an overall pass rate of 78%, with 100% passes in Clothing and Textiles, Home Economics, Social Studies and Electronic Document Preparation and Management. The pass rate in English B, Integrated Science and Office Procedure was 90% or over. 83% of the 40 students who wrote the exams were successful in 5 or more subjects.

Seventeen-year-old Lynzie-Ann Solomon, is the school’s most outstanding performer. She obtained certificates in nine subjects, English A – I, Integrated Science – III, Mathematics – III, Office Procedures – I, Principles of Accounts – III, Principles of Business – II, Social Studies – II, Spanish – III, Electronic Document Preparation and Management – II.

Lynzie, the daughter of Cornetta Patterson and Julian Solomon of Barrouallie said she expected to do well, but is a little disappointed with her results. “I am alright with it, but I expected all ones and twos.” She will enter the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College next term and hopes to pursue studies in Economics and Business Studies. She expressed her appreciation to her parents and teachers for their support.

Principal Lewis was of the opinion that the students had done much better than last year. “I am very pleased.” He said that the results show that if the students settle down and do their work, they can do just as well as any other school. He made the point that many of the students did not pass the common entrance exams, but were still successful. “Their results have been improving over the last five years. The school used to concentrate more on sports, but I have been placing more emphasis on academics. We police them, I am constantly on their backs.” Lewis said.