CAPE results retain standard

Although the overall pass rate has dipped somewhat, from 91 per cent in 2008 to 89 percent this year, Chief Education Officer Susan Dougan insists that, taking all variables into account, St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) results have generally maintained “a very good standard of performance.”{{more}}

Released on Tuesday, August 11th, the 2009 results indicate that there was an increase in both numbers of candidates and number of subject areas that students were tested in proficiency. In 2008, 477 candidates from the Division of Arts, Sciences and General Studies of the St. Vincent Community College sat examinations in 12 subjects. This year, 599 candidates were entered (from the same institution) in 15 subject areas.

However, there was a decrease in the number of subjects which recorded 100 per cent pass rates, from five in 2008 to four in 2009. These subjects include Caribbean Studies French Unit 2, Sociology Unit 2 and Spanish Unit 2.

Two subjects showed an increase in pass rate; 7 subjects showed a decrease, and 3 subjects maintained their pass rates. In every subject area, the pass rate was in excess of 65 per cent. Three new subjects were introduced; in keeping with the Administration and Faculty’s vow to diversify the institution’s programme “to meet the growing needs of students and prospective students.” These subjects include History Unit 2, Sociology Unit 2 and Literatures in English Unit 1.

The major difference between this year’s and 2008’s performance is that last year the grades obtained were “almost evenly distributed” across the grade 2 to grade 5 band. This year, there were 259 passes at grade 4.

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT, Luann Gilchrist, Local Registrar in the Ministry of Education, seemed satisfied with the country’s CAPE performance this year. “The results are acceptable.” (JSV)