Belize District Schools do well on PSE
The Primary School Examinations are not necessarily the only prerequisite for acceptance to high schools, but they are surely an indicator of how the nation’s young minds are performing in English, Math, Social Studies and Science. This year’s results showed a modest improvement over last year’s results in the four areas and it also showed that except for the southern most districts, students in other parts did well. News Five Jose Sanchez crisscrossed Belize City today and got a reaction from the top scorers who revealed the high schools of their choice.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
The Primary School Examination results have been released. Six thousand six hundred and sixty-one students sat the exam which tested proficiency in English, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science. The number one ranking student, Siian Rancharan, had a cumulative score of three hundred and eighty-six out of four hundred. Rancharan and two classmates of Hummingbird Elementary, placed in the top thirty.
Siian Rancharan, Ranked 1st on PSE
siian rancharan
“I studied, I reviewed. What I think I different was I believed I that I would try my best and I think that really gave me a confidence boost. And of course, all my teachers, my standard six teachers, Ms. Hortence Wade and Ms. Melanie Chavarria and my principal and the director of the school. Also my past teachers gave me foundation to work hard. Also learning from my past experience and classmates also played a definite role in my achievement.”
Jose Sanchez
“Which high school do you intend to go?”
Siian Rancharan
“St. John’s College.”
alexander king Jr.
Alexander King Jr., Ranked 7th on PSE
“I feel great that I came in seventh in the country. It’s a good feeling to know that you did well.”
Jose Sanchez
“What type of work did you put into it? Anything extra?”
Alexander King Jr.
“I just did the basic hour a night study; nothing too hard.”
Jose Sanchez
“Who helped you?”
Alexander King Jr.
“My mom, definitely.”
Jose Sanchez
“Which high school do you plan to go now?”
Alexander King Jr.
“St. John’s.”
Mishek Musa, Ranked 8th on PSE
mishek musa
“I feel good that I achieved my goals that I tried to do. I studied hard.”
Jose Sanchez
“Who assisted you in doing so well?”
Mishek Musa
“All my classmates and my parents and my teachers.”
Jose Sanchez
“You have a choice of high schools, which school are you going to go and why?”
Mishek Musa
“SJC because I think it’s just a good school and they do good in CSEC.”
Pancotto Primary School in Sand Hill received three of the top thirty students, including Deanna Gibson, who was the second highest ranking candidate in the country.
Deanna Gibson, Ranked 2nd on PSE
“I feel really excited because I honestly didn’t expect it but I feel relieved because I tried my best.”
Jose Sanchez
“How do you manage to accomplish this?”
Deanna Gibson
“Especially with my teacher, Miss Lisa, with friends, with neighbors; Miss Davis. A lot of people take time to help me.”
Jose Sanchez
“When it comes to attending high school, you have your choice of high schools. Which high school would you want to attend?”
Deanna Gibson
“St. Catherine Academy.”
Jose Sanchez
“Your school itself doesn’t get a lot of funding so what made the difference that you and three of your classmates did so well?”
Deanna Gibson
“We tried hard and our teacher tried hard with us and we really showed that we want this so we tried our best.”
tatiana acevedo
Tatiana Acevedo, Ranked 25th on PSE
“I feel very happy and satisfied with my grade.”
Jose Sanchez
“How did you manage to do so well? What did you do?”
Tatiana Acevedo
“Well, I studied hard every day and with help from my teacher and my parents and my friends. I studied hard.”
Jose Sanchez
“Which school do you intend to attend?”
Tatiana Acevedo
“Edward P. Yorke.”
Keeron Young, Ranked 29th on PSE
keeron young
“Feels great.”
Jose Sanchez
“Feels great, but how much work did you put into it? How did you manage to do so well?”
Keeron Young
“I started preparing from infant one all the way up to standard six, and while I was in standard five, my mother gave me extra classes from her school and my teacher gave us practice papers which also helped us to do so well.”
Jose Sanchez
“Which school would you want to attend?”
Keeron Young
“Wesley High School.”
According to Lisa Young, their standard six teacher, all twenty students of Pancotto passed the exam.
lisa young
Lisa Young, Standard Six Teacher, Pancotto Primary School.
We had one hundred percent passes. We had two children in the fifties, four in the sixties and everybody else over seventy.”
Jose Sanchez
“Were there any extra classes? How were you able to accomplish this goal?”
Lisa Young
“First, I would like to say that PSE is not just about standard six, it is about the whole eight years of elementary school.”
St. Ignatius Primary School in Belize City also had three students in the top thirty.
Nadiya Sedasey, Ranked 6th on PSE
nadiya sedasey
“I feel so great. I feel so happy and so relieved.”
Jose Sanchez
“Was this something you did on your own or other people had input?”
Nadiya Sedasey
“Other people had input in my studies and helping me throughout the way.”
Jose Sanchez
“So who? Parents, teachers?”
Nadiya Sedasey
“Parents and all my teachers starting from infant one when I started this school up to standard six at present.”
Jose Sanchez
“Which school are you planning to attend now?”
Nadiya Sedasey
“I am planning to attend Pallotti High School.”
demi peyrefitte
Demi Peyrefitte, Ranked 14th on PSE
“I feel so happy and right now I feel like nothing can bring me down right now.”
Jose Sanchez
“Who all were involved in getting you this far?”
Demi Peyrefitte
“My dad, my aunt, my brother for helping me with homework many nights. My teachers, Mrs. Tillett, Mr. Charles and also our principals and vice principals too.”
Jose Sanchez
“You have a choice of high schools, which do you want to attend?”
Demi Peyrefitte
“St. Catherine Academy.”
Shane Galvez, Ranked 21st on PSE
shane galvez
“My parents, my teachers—all of my teachers actually from infant one to standard six for helping me in all my studies and of course, my principals and God most of all.”
Jose Sanchez
“Which high school do you intend to attend?”
Shawn Galvez
“I will be attending SJC, St. John’s College.”
Belize Elementary School had five students in the top thirty students.
jeremy kinto & kelsey musa
Jeremy Quinto, Ranked 27th on PSE
“It feels amazing, I can’t believe that I got in the top twenty-five.”
Kelsey Musa, Ranked 3rd on PSE
“I feel really happy and proud of myself to accomplish something this big.”
Jose Sanchez
“How difficult was it getting here? Who assisted you?”
Jeremy Quinto
“Pretty much all my family, pretty much all the teachers that taught me classes.”
Kelsey Musa
“My supportive teachers, my parents, my extra tutor Ms. Castillo and all those who just supported me taking this exam.”
Jose Sanchez
“Which high school do you intend to go to?”
Jeremy Quinto
“Belize High School.”
Kelsey Musa
“St. Catherine Academy.”
Alexis Musa, Ranked 26th on PSE
alexis musa
“It feels good to know that you did good for PSE.”
Jose Sanchez
“Who assisted you in getting this far?”
Alexis Musa
“The support of my teachers and we all helped each other; our classmates.”
Jose Sanchez
“Which high school do you intend to go now?”
Alexis Musa
“BHS.”
christian cansino & simran hotchandani
Christian Cansino, Ranked 19th on PSE
“Feels good.”
Simran Hotchandani, Ranked 15th on PSE
“Feels nice, I wasn’t expecting it.”
Jose Sanchez
“How much work did you put into getting this accomplishment?”
Christian Cansino
“Not a lot.”
Simran Hotchandani
“Not much, just went over a few notes and that’s it.”
Jose Sanchez
“Which high school do you intend to go now?”
Christian Cansino
“I’m going to BCA in Belmopan.”
Simran Hotchandani
“SCA here in Belize.”
Deanna Nisbet, Principal, Belize Elementary
deanna nisbet
“We sent up fifty-five students and out of fifty-five, forty-eight received overall A’s. Five received B’s and one received a C. I think we’re very proud to say that I think we’re the only school that got five students in the top twenty-five in the country; a record we can be very proud of.”
I firmly believe that the education system is Belize is a bit bad because of what I know is that that test is an entrance to a high school. Here in the U.S we don’t take any test to depend what high school we are capable of attending. However we do take tests for entering a law, med, vet school after our college degree. But I’m glad that students are doing better on the PSE. Education is the key to success.
The test is not an entrance to high school. Students are accepted to most high schools before their PSE.
Congratulations Harry Potter aka “Siian” on doing so well on the PSE.
Congratulations Siian
Hey congrats to all students. Big up to you Siian
I would like to congratulate all the children of Belize who took their PSE. These examinations will help you decide the High Schools that you attend in Belize. Continue to work hard and focus on the big picture as this is only the beginning. As the previous commentor stated, education is the key to success. By this we mean, many doors will open for you because of this success.
To the adults of Belize having read the interviews of the children there are key themes emerging. The obvious one for me is that there is a clear divide between the haves and have not (economically), parents and teachers need to support these children. Your parental role is beyond just providing a roof over their heads and food on the table. You must take the assignment that the children bring home as a project that you and your children solve together (with your child taking the lead role of course!). Parents learn your children curriculum, don’t leave it up to the teachers alone.
As a student in Belize I can recall two or three key teachers (Mrs Arana, Mrs Joseph, Mrs Esqivel) who made positive impact on my life/career simply by their support and kind comments. I was determine to do well in life but the parental support wasn’t always there (its fine my mother won’t mine me saying so). Instead, I had wonderful grandparents who took on the role of parents and supportive teachers who brought out the best in me.
I didn’t pass what the time was called a ‘Common entrance’ exams but my grandmother manage to negotiate getting me into Wesley High School. Its there that I meet these teachers (except Mrs Joseph was at Queen sq) who gave me support and encouragement. I think that is all I needed. To use the analogy of a child learning to ride a bike. The support of my grandparents and those few teachers and I was off.
Today I have completed a Bachelor of Science Degree at King’s College London, a Master’s Degree at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and I am currently completing a Phd which a collaborative project between (University College London and University of Southampton) in the United Kingdom.
To the children who didn’t do as well as you would have liked to do, consider it as a false start. Now go back to the starting block and focus on getting started in High school, as it is only the beginnig of your education not finish line.
Heartfelt congratulations to all students for a job well done on the PSE. Would appreciate if the media take time and also big up out districts. My daughter whom i’m really proud of, also ranked in the 25 top students countrywide. Her name is karissa Magana and she attends Mount Carmel Primary School in Benque Viejo. I guess whats good for the goose is good for the gander. Nuff Respect. She also ranked 7th place in the Cayo district.