How do P.S.E. students fare in Social Studies and Science

By now you are aware that the seven thousand five hundred and thirty-three students that took the Primary School Examination did not perform well in English and Math. The Ministry of Education held a conference on Thursday to examine their findings about the exam. And while the Chief Education Officer, Christopher Aird, crunched the numbers, Minister of Education, Patrick Faber talked about teacher training, educating school managers, the need for parents to play a greater role in their education and, of course, the role of the Belize National Teachers Union to assist in providing solutions. The conference went for over two hours and the focus was mainly on the core subjects. Tonight, we offer the Chief Education Officer’s comments on the trends exhibited in Social Studies and Science.

Christopher Aird, Chief Education Officer

Christopher Aird

“The median score has climbed steadily and significantly from sixty-two in 2009 to seventy two in 2012 and 2013. Therefore whereas half the students scored above seventy-two percentage of students. It is true that the proportion fell about 3 percentage points from last year. annual variation; twenty percent in 2009. Those scoring A’s less than last year.  Now half our scoring about seventy two. The percent of students scoring at lease three a certainly significantly higher. 2009. Half our scoring above seventy-two. The percent of students the overall conclusion is social studies has improved. It is true that the proportion fell about three percent points within the last year. The percentage of ease, the increase from 2009 to fifteen percent in 2013. The overall conclusion is that social studies performance have steadily improved; but mean performance is in the satisfactorily level. Furthermore,   science mean over a five year period, increased from sixty-percent in 2009 to seventy point nine in 2013. What is more important is that there are interventions. The mean score increased steadily in 2009 and while this year’s mean is just a bit lower than last year, about two point five percent points, this fluctuation may well be within the annual expected variation. The mode grade range increased from C to A in 2012 and 2013 in science.”

Patrick Faber

Patrick Faber, Minister of Education

“This is the reality of what is happening in our system. The ministry of .education on its own cannot fix the problem. We are imploring the stake holders, some of who have long been donor…some are dormant some are more active. Do their part in fixing the problem. It does not mean by any means a child who gets below fifty on the exam is due to failure in life. Everybody’s failing? Simply not true. I think the exam serves a useful purpose. It tells us exactly were we are. No surgar, but I’ll tell you. I ma absolutely convinces that we have a very good education system in this system;…despite its flaws.”