GHS Headmistress proud of her girls

“It was a relief!”

That’s how Headmistress of the Girls’ High School Andrea Bowman describes the results of the CXC Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination.{{more}}

It was the first time in the school’s history that as many as 225 girls sat external exams. This was as a direct result of the universal access to education initiative – a policy implemented by the government in 2003.

That year, the institution had an intake of 251 students, a change from the normal 120 or 130 admissions.

The change, said Bowman, posed several challenges for the school. Not only did they have to get extra classrooms, but they also introduced several differentiated programmes, which were implemented to cater “for a different calibre of student”.

Three of the eight third forms were given more Mathematics and English classes. They were also given different subject options to accommodate the different “abilities and needs” of the students.

Having been blessed with a staff of “hard working and dedicated teachers”, and generally supportive parents, the school was able to perform exceptionally well in this year’s CSEC exams.

Bowman said the Girls’ High School’s pass rate this year of 93 per cent was an improvement from last year’s 92.4 percent.

The institution received 100 per cent passes in Physics, Physical Education, Integrated Science, Economics, Office Administration, Electronic Document Preparation and Management, Information Technology (General and Technical), Home Economics Management, Food and Nutrition, Clothing and Textiles and Social Studies. The school also had an increase in the Mathematics pass rate from 70 per cent last year to 87.1 per cent this year.

Bowman expressed that the girls were very competitive and worked hard to fulfill that which was expected of them. Fifty-five girls passed 9 subjects, 48 passed 10 subjects while 13 passed 11 subjects and three passed 12 subjects.

Bowman expressed that she is proud of the girls and would have felt that “we didn’t do our best if the results weren’t what they are”. (VM)