The 2024 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) in Guyana showed mixed results.
Of the 11,612 students who wrote the CSEC in May/June there is 67.23 per cent pass rate, which is students who attained a full certificate of five subjects inclusive of Mathematics and English. This figure is down from last year’s figure of 67.37 per cent.
According to the Chief Education Officer, Saddam Hussain Guyana recorded outstanding performances in seven subjects where students gained over 90 per cent. These include Agricultural Sciences (98.85 per cent), Theatre Arts (98 per cent) and Electronic Document Preparation (93 per cent).
English A pass rate, dropped by three per cent, that is, from 72 per cent in 2023 to 69 per cent in 2024. On the other hand, English B increased from 64 per cent to 70 per cent.
Mathematics’ pass rate dropped from 34 per cent last year to 31 per cent. Additional Mathematics significantly increased to 53 per cent.
In the new term, the Ministry of Education will implement a project to help students improve their math performance. Minister Manickchand promised that in the new school term all students will receive a calculator, geometry set and other resources. Additionally, trained assessors will be visiting schools to monitor math lessons and recommend changes to improve learning.
The new policies by the government suggests acceptance by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) that pass rates across the region are declining.
Last week CXC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Registrar Dr. Wayne Wesley called on countries to implement measures to halt the decline in pass rates, particularly in Mathematics and English. The CEO has said a team has been commissioned to develop standards for literacy and numeracy, and will incorporate Artificial Intelligence to enhance educational outcomes.
In CAPE, 721 students from 13 secondary schools and four private centers wrote the exam. According to the ministry 92.5 per cent of students achieved a full certificate, compared to 93 per cent in 2023.
A 2022 World Bank Report noted that “Although the education sector in Guyana has made remarkable progress in the last 15 years in terms of access, learning outcomes remain low across all levels. Guyana achieved 88 percent and 92 percent enrollment at the Nursery and Primary levels, respectively (2018).
“However, according to the Human Capital Index, a child born in Guyana today will only be 50 percent as productive when she grows up as she could be if she enjoyed complete education and full health. This is lower than the average for the LAC region and upper middle-income countries. The low human capital score is in part driven by low educational and health outcomes”
