Common Entrance Exam write-off excels at CSEC

After two unsuccessful attempts at the Common Entrance Examinations, 17-year-old Ronnie Richardson is evidence that Universal Secondary Education reaps benefits.{{more}}

Richardson, a former student of the Barrouallie Secondary School (BSS), had a 100 percent success rate, passing all ten subjects that he wrote at the CXC Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exam. He received grade ones in Principles of Business, and Social Studies, grade two in Caribbean History, English A and B, Geography, Integrated Science, Office Administration and Spanish. His only Grade three was in Mathematics.

The widely popular Richardson, like any other student with such a commendable performance, is very happy with the outcome, but believes that he could have got more grade ones, and done better in maths.

To his mother Jolene, Ronnie’s performance came as no surprise to her, since his performances throughout secondary school have been very consistent, placing in the top three yearly.

But what happened at the common entrance? The ever-confident BSS 2007 Student of the Year said that this might have been because of an unsettled primary school period.

In 2001 when he wrote the common entrance exam for the first time, Richardson was shuttled between the Stephanie Browne Primary School in Union Island and the Barrouallie Government School. The second time around he was just as unfortunate.

Even though he did not pass, he was allowed to enter the BSS, and Richardson made good use of the opportunity.

But he claimed that he would not have been able to do it on his own.

He stated that a large number of persons contributed to his success.

He credited his mother Jolene and father Brian Clouden, eight sisters and eleven brothers, his grandmother, teachers, neighbours and church members among others.

Already making plans to attend the St. Vincent Community College, and with aspirations to become a lawyer, Richardson said that although children may fail the Common Entrance exam, they, or teachers and family should not give up hope, but at the same time they should always give of their best, study hard, and keep a positive attitude.