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Approximately 700 students scored less than 30 per cent on the 2023 Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination (BSSEE) Mathematics paper, while close to 400 pupils scored below that number on the English paper.
Senior Education Officer with responsibility for Examinations, Glyne Price, made this disclosure during a press briefing today on the BSSEE results at the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Elsie Payne Complex, Constitution Road, St. Michael. A total of 3,170 students were registered for the exam on June 27.
Mr. Price explained, however, that this performance was not unique to this year’s exam. “Over the years, the number of students that continue to score below 30 per cent has always been an area of concern for us. And, therefore, the curriculum officer in Mathematics, what she has been doing over the years, is conducting a series of workshops for teachers and the teaching of Mathematics.
“And, I think during this summer vacation, Erdiston Teachers’ Training College is actually putting on workshops in the teaching of Mathematics, especially for our primary school teachers, to see if we can address the shortfall in terms of some of the instruction. English [scores] were better than Maths…just short of 400 persons scored less than 30 per cent,” Mr. Price stated.
Chief Education Officer, Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, said the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training was currently working with schools and principals to close the gaps in education.
She further noted that the Ministry was exploring using diagnostic tests before any teaching occurred in the classroom, as well as various types of applications and technology to assist children.
“We’ve spoken with principals about instructional leadership. In fact, we recently had workshops with principals to help them in that aspect and we will continue to have workshops with [them]. We will continue to work together to assist these children in closing the gaps,” said the Chief Education Officer, who also appealed to parents to do their part in helping their children reach success.
She emphasised that now that parents had the results of the exam, it was time to not only purchase uniforms to get them physically ready for school in September, but it was equally as important to get them mentally prepared.
“You know, it’s vacation time and the children are relaxing, but let them do some work as well. We all need to be in this together in order for the children to reach their particular goals. It is not a Ministry of Education thing; it is not a school thing. It is a whole community effort in helping these children to reach their goals,” she advised.