Top P.S.E. students rewarded for their excellence

The results of the Primary School Examinations were made public two weeks ago. There was reason for excitement and celebration because the scores showed improvement over last year’s. This morning, the thirty students who topped the exams nationwide were acknowledged by the Ministry of Education in the presence of teachers, parents and their peers at the Annual Award ceremony. News’s Five Isani Cayetano was present when the nation’s brightest students came together for the much anticipated awards.

Isani Cayetano, reporting

Students from primary schools across the country were today formally recognized by the Ministry of Education for their performance in this year’s Primary School Examinations.  The results, which were released a few weeks ago, show significant progress in key subjects; specifically Math and English that have proven to be quite problematic over the years.  Despite a new record being set for the highest score garnered in the exams; Education Minister, Patrick Faber, says there is still room for improvement.

Patrick Faber, Minister of Education

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“I’m never pleased when so many of the students are still not meeting the mark but it’s an improvement from last year and, as you know, the grades that came out this year didn’t fall too far from what the trend has been.  So we did not get to this point overnight and we can’t expect to get out overnight, but I’m comforted by the fact that we have shown some improvement and we continue to try to put in place the strategies in the Ministry of Education to try to make sure that on the longer run that these grades will improve.”

While the ministry acknowledges that tweaking the existing curriculum and providing quality training for teachers will help in curbing the results of the P.S.E., students must also play their part in measuring up to the task at hand.  For twelve year old Siian Rancharan, living up to that responsibility has earned him the highest honor for a primary school student.  Siian was presented with the Michael and Jane Nembhard Award for Excellence.

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Siian Rancharan, Student, Hummingbird Elementary

“I feel proud of myself because I know I did my hard work.  I dedicated my time and it really paid off I think. So, all I have to say is that I’m more confident now with exams and that how it’s a really great accomplishment of mine.”

The spotlight, since the results were made public, has been on students.  In the background are teachers and parents who remain the driving force behind their children’s achievements.

Dennis Peyrefitte, Parent

dennis peyrefitte

“Demi has always been somebody bright but I didn’t expect well this to be this level noh.  So, I was really proud this morning, as usual I was behind the camera, I couldn’t bring out the camera cause a mih ah dih shake all day as I am still.  I’m really proud of her.  I’m satisfied with her achievement and I know that she will do better as she goes further in life but I’m really, really proud of her achievement.”

For Demi Peyrefitte, the feeling of success has been nothing short of overwhelming.

demi peyrefitte

Demi Peyrefitte, Student, St. Ignatius Primary

“I still have butterflies in my stomach because I feel so happy that I made it into the top twenty-five and I just feel so good that my teachers had a part of this and my parents also.”

The National Awards Ceremony salutes the achievement of the top performers in the annual exams; most importantly it helps to boost their confidence going into high school.

Alexander King, Student, Hummingbird Elementary

alexander king

“It feels good to be acknowledged for your hard work, just to know that people are actually recognizing you for your ability.”

Isani Cayetano

“Now that you’ve been recognized for your achievement what will you be doing in the upcoming school year?”

Alexander King

“Uhm studying—getting ready for high school.  It’s a new phase in my life so I have to get ready.”

That preparation says Faber begins in the infant division when children are first exposed to reading and writing.  For that purpose the ministry has established a literacy program to assist in developing those skills.

Patrick Faber

“That unit aims at making sure that our children are reading properly from infants, lower school division, infant one, infant two, standard one, to do the kinds of diagnostic testing that will make us aware that they are not meeting the requirement and then putting in place corrective measures from those early stages so that we don’t wait until they are at standard five, standard six when they are about to take the P.S.E. to understand that they are not reading properly.”

A total of thirty students received certificates of achievement by the Ministry of Education at today’s ceremony which was held at the auditorium at Belize Elementary School. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.

This Thursday, students from across the country will also be officially recognized at ceremonies in the districts.