Garcia: Small improvement in CAPE performance for 2017

He was speaking yesterday at the post-Cabinet news briefing at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s.

“In 2016, we had 94.6 per cent of our students achieving acceptable grades, that is, between grades one to five in unit one.

In 2017, we had 95.06 per cent of students achieving acceptable grades, that is, one to five. In addition to that, of the 33 subjects that were written by students, we found that in 25 of those subjects, students scored 90 per cent and above.” He continued, “In unit two, in 2016, 94.10 per cent of students achieved an acceptable pass rate, that is, between grades one to five and in 2017, we have 94.44 per cent of students achieving acceptable pass rates. Again, of the 33 subjects that we written by our students, we had in 24 subjects, our students achieved a pass rate of 90 per cent and over.” Garcia said after analysing the results, they found in unit one in 2016, 48.19 per cent of students achieved grades one and two, and in 2017 there was a marked improvement where 53.05 per cent of students achieved grades one and two.

He said in 2016, 47.2 per cent of students achieved grades one and two and in 2017, 52.29 per cent of students receiving grades one and two. “It shows very clearly that our students are performing better at these exams. We are hoping to have the results of CSE C released either later today or tomorrow (today).” Garcia said a total of 8,140 students wrote the CAPE examination with 4,750 females and 3,390 males, and 400 scholarships would be awarded this year.

Last year, 389 schools were given scholarships.

When asked about the performance of students who wrote the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSE C) examination, Garcia said those results had not yet been assessed but a report on the performance of students at both CAPE and CSE C would be made public today.

He also said upgrades and improvements to schools were ongoing and all systems indicated that deadlines would be met for all schools to be opened on time.