CAPE results show an improvement over last year

With an overall pass rate of 91 per cent, St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) results have shown a “…marked improvement” over those of previous years.{{more}}

In a press release, the Ministry of Education said that 100 per cent passes were achieved in Caribbean Studies, French Units 1 and 2, Spanish Unit 2 and Computer Science Units 1 and 2.

According to Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Laura Browne, this year’s 71 per cent pass rate in Pure Math Unit 1 reflects a 14 per cent increase on passes in 2007. Similarly, Pure Math Unit 2 shows a pass rate increase of 9 per cent.

Even more encouraging is the increase in the attainment of Grade 1 passes. Statistics show that 82 students gained Grade 1 profiles, as opposed to only 35 in 2007 – more than doubled in the space of a year.

All 477 candidate entries were from the St. Vincent Community College. Examinations were conducted in twelve different subjects – Caribbean Studies, Pure Math Unit 1, Pure Math Unit 2, Communication Studies, French Unit 1, French Unit 2, Spanish Unit 1, Spanish Unit 2, Computer Science Unit 1, Computer Science Unit 2, Sociology Unit 1 and History Unit 2.

Statistics from the Ministry of Education show that in 2005 the pass rate was 73 per cent; in 2006, 69 per cent and in 2007 – 89 per cent.

CXC Public Information Officer Cleveland Sam, in a recent press release, indicated that, in the region, “…performance in the two technology-related subjects of Computer Science and Information Technology showed the most improved performance in the 2008 CAPE, offered by the Caribbean Examinations Council.” Computer Science Unit 1 showed a 21% improvement over last year, whilst Computer Science Unit 2 showed an improvement of 35%. The release further states that regional performance has improved in 14 units, declined in 24 units and remained the same in 6 units.

The overall top performer in the region will receive the Dennis Irvine Award, which was awarded in 2007 to Akash Maharaj, of Trinidad.