A lot of pressure on GHS to remain on top – Headmistress

For many years, the St Vincent Girls’ High School (GHS) has been the top performer in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) in the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) and this year is no exception.

Headmistress of the GHS Andrea Bowman told SEARCHLIGHT in an interview on Wednesday that she is relieved that her school has maintained its top position with a pass rate of 97.19 per cent.{{more}}

Bowman admits that there is a lot of pressure on the school to remain at the top.

“When it does come though, you are relieved and I think we are all relieved,” she said.

While she is happy with the results, the Headmistress shared that she still believes her girls can achieve 100 per cent passes. “I keep saying, I know we could do better. I know GHS could do better. I know GHS could get 100 per cent passes and that is still my objective,” she reiterated.

Bowman stated that this year, only a few students wrote a high numbers of subjects, one of whom was the top performing female student Jessica Prescott who sat 13 subjects and returned 12 grade ones and one grade two. Other outstanding performances came from Shikana Browne – 11 ones and 1 two; Sharece Antrobus – 10 ones and 2 twos; Lyndsay Dowers – 10 ones, 1 two and 1 three; Natasha Hypolite – 9 ones, 2 twos and 1 three and Leis Ollivierre – nine ones, 2 twos and 1 three.

However Bowman said that she expects her upcoming fifth form to write larger numbers because of the hard work they have put in.

The experienced educator said she considers the CSEC to be basic, so she supports the exposure of students to as many subject concepts as possible to make for a good secondary education. “Once the student has the ability to do it well, it gives breath of knowledge,” Bowman said, commenting on the trend in which students write a large number of subjects.

She noted that GHS’s ability to maintain the top position is because they recognize where their students’ strengths lie and work with them to improve on their weaker areas.

“You have to allow them to develop confidence in themselves and their abilities. You can’t have an ‘I am not as good’ attitude or that kind of thing. You must recognize your strength and build on them and have confidence,” Bowman stated. (CM)