Dominica is today reaping the benefits of its five-year-old Universal Secondary Education (USE) initiative, which mandates quality secondary education to all that have completed the grade-six level.
“We came in for a serious bashing from our critics but now we stand here vindicated by the move we took five years ago,” said Education Minister Hon. Peter St. Jean.
Of the 15 secondary schools across the island, nine saw graduates who attained top spots at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams. This milestone was realized by the first batch of students to have completed the full cycle of secondary education since the 2005 USE implementation.
“The result of this year’s examination represents, really and truly, the results of the first product from the five years of Universal Secondary Education.
“It has always been the dream of this administration that by 2015 we will have at least one university graduate in every household in Dominica,” Minister St. Jean said.
He said this dream could not be realized without the effort of all. From the children in the smallest village, to the teachers and of course the administrators.”
“We have what it takes to take Dominica to the next level …through education,” the Minister said.
He said the diversity of top students of this year’s exams is a reflection that there is true emphasis on quality education at all schools.
“The schools are making tremendous efforts at providing students with quality education.”
High note on education or a high note on other things? I am left to wonder what qualifies the use of ” a high note” regarding the education system in Dominica. So much work needs to be done its not funny. Just a clear case of emotive language and not enough factual information. The journey has now begun. I think the teachers and those who work in the schools should be ask the question: Did u all end on a high note after the first year?” Perhaps some may have gotten high from pressure and stress. There are good things happening but the time in not right to state so boldly that the program is on a HIgh note. Welll them people real real bright: ah wanna fall, tell it out loud!
Its pretty much amazing to see those who represent Dominica using an increase in cxc results to make political mileage. Look at these schools around the island and them you will see how successful or unscuseceesful the program has been. So many things are wrong with the system and how the schools operate. I think success is more than a goood pass mark. One should look at the over all development of the students.Take a walk to some of the schools at the middle of a any school terms and you will observe how difficult life an be for some students especially those who may not have come from the rich circles of Dominica. So all the chat and loud pronouncements about the politicking and making it seem like some party has scored a world cup goal is just to much old talk. Please be informed that people are much more informed and educated these days and old talk will not make the grade. Put systems in place for the students to enjoy the process of education hence building a solid society where by citizens would be able to think critically at all times. Keep it real and stop the old talking, i think the people deserve better than that.
Oh peter pepper, Do you know that most of the the secondary schools are now streaming students for subject enties?
@WRONG: Exactly so. St. Jean talks about being vindicated, from what? What are the numeracy and literacy levels which now exist? St. Jean’s statements are devoid of any statistics that would convince Dominicans that because of the USE programme the results are outstanding. The Chief Education Officer expressed concern again this year that only 36% of students were able to pass Maths. Does St. Jean recognize what that means? In this 21st. century, out of every 100 student who sat the Math CXC exam, only 36 were able to pass and St. Jean beats his chest feeling that the USE Programme, as managed, is bringing out the best in our students. Where did St. Jean get his qualifications from to be Minister of ‘Education’? Many of the students speeches during graduation had more substance than the Minister’s. But therein lies the major problem in Dominica. St. Jean and his GOVT. because of belief in mediocrity, feeling that the USE is the all, the necessary corrective measures will never be seriously taken to better our Education System. After 10 year what better systems have been put in place? Meanwhile our poor students will continually to be shortchanged. A few will perform creditably, but the majority will face hell. Where are the statistics Mr. Minister to convince Dominicans of the good performance or outcomes of the USE? In any case, students who did well at CXC this year would always be the same ones to perform well irrespective of what., not because of USE? Utter nonsense !! Be real, Mr. Minister.
The million dollar question is not whether we have 1 University graduate in every household, but what significant role will each play in the development of their country. If the role understood , as exemplified presently by those in power and those who have already graduated, is that of acquiring and amassing massive assets through all sorts of illegal means, disrespecting the laws of the land, then Dominica would be in chaos. Corruption would deepen significantly to the detriment of the country. Dominica boasts of many more local lawyers, but justice for all is wanting badly. So Let’s be real, Mr. St. Jean, ‘Education Minister’
@Following their master like poddles: @Following their master like poddles: @Following their master like poddles: Very True. While there are some students who are overcoming the ineffective USE (and I say ineffective because there are more students who have more needs with few teachers and more distraction due to the larger classes and therefore perhaps more crippling to the students who have the potential to perform), the majority of students are feeling the effects of it. With USE there is basically nothing to ‘work hard’ for. Yes, we have a greater performance in the CXC results; however, we have to take into consideration that there are more students who are being enrolled in High School. When you compare those who have repeated, dropped out and not performed well to those who have performed well, there is no significant increase in performance due to USE according to the Minister of Education. In fact if we get the actual numbers and compare them to those numbers of over 5 years ago, we will see a huge decline in performance, an enormous increase in ‘doubling’ and a gigantic rise in drop-outs with a rise in the “I don’t care” attitude among students.
Gone are the days when students like myself used to cry when they got a grade “C”…
Mr St Jean this is pure gibberish,and you lousy speech deserver nothing more than a failing mark..For your information,because you could be ignorant of it.Universal Secondary Education was piloted in GrandBay,and up to this day,it has been an abysmal failure at the school..Children leave 5th form and still can’t read or write.During the past 15years or so years of Universal Secondary Education at GrandBay, the school have not had any student doing well at CXE since they would probably need another 10years to write the exam.Illdiscipline,and disruption of the system are their hallmark,and this is largely due to their inability to cope with the work.
Your political speech was indeed poor.How many Universal Secondary Education students got 5passes? 4passes? 3passes? You need to highlight that,instead of just making a blanket statement..And remember we have had Universal Secondary at GrandBay for years, upon years upon years and up to now, students from that stream have not produced anything of substance at the CXC LEVEL..
This is using our kids to play politics at its worse! When USE came in to being the Minister said at the time it was so that no kids were left behind, for the last five years in every secondary school an average of 30 students double also a significant drop out. This year the ministry of education ask parents to keep students back if they didnt do to well because of the significant amount that did not meet the criteria for secondary school. Yet the minister forget all those issues and boast about those that did well i guess the others were not important or he simple dont care as playing politics with their livelihood is more important. The saddest part of that is the there people in the ministry and in the school who are very aware of the problem and do and say nothing. there will always be kids that will excel but what about the those that are borderline who is looking out for them! I am sorry to say but i believe in some of our schools we are breeding someting we is going to bite us badly in the not to distance future if we dont take stock.