2,071 to sit Common Entrance Examination

Minister of Education Girlyn Miguel has sent best wishes to the 2071 students who are registered to write this year’s Common Entrance exam today, Friday, June 2, at some 19 centres nationwide.

Minister Miguel told the youngsters via a press conference held last Monday, May 29, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conference room, that she is as anxious about their success as she was when she was a teacher.{{more}}

Reminding those present about the universal access to secondary school that became a reality in September 2005, Minister Miguel reiterated the Government’s commitment to education. “We have seen a great improvement since 2001 when only 39% of children 12-years-old were attending secondary schools,” declared the minister with an obvious sense of satisfaction.

“Education is the business of parents and the state, let us partner together for the good of our precious children,” was the call of the Education minister as she reminded the press of Government’s plans to construct four new secondary schools in Union Island, Peters Hope, Barrouallie and in West St George during the 2006- 2007 school year.

The minister also stressed her ministry’s commitment to the enforcing of a comprehensive program of remedial education at both the primary and secondary school levels. She took the time to appeal to parents and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to pay particular attention to the specific needs of boys in our nation.

Expressing concern that boys tend to drop out of school earlier than girls, Miguel challenged parents, especially single mothers to stop giving special treatment to boys because it is doing them more harm than good. “We can’t allow our boys to come into our homes at 1:00 a.m. and all other hours just because they are boys.”

The Ministry of Education is also continuing their retooling and re-training drive for teachers, to equip them for the aforementioned remedial programme and the bridging programme geared at helping students with their adjustment into the secondary school setting.