Stop Showcasing Only Top Students, Publish the Full CSEC Picture- Dr. Barker

Guyanese students are receiving their results in this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) examinations, but We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) Shadow Minister of Education and educator Dr. Gordon Barker is urging the Ministry of Education to go beyond celebrating top performers and publish a fuller picture of the nation’s educational performance.

Barker, who is also a teacher, congratulated the students who sat the examinations but said the country needs critical information about how the wider student population performed, particularly the number of students achieving the qualifications required to advance to tertiary education or improve their employment prospects.

“Equally important is the publication of this year’s matriculation rate. The nation deserves to know how many of our students secured five CSEC passes including Mathematics and English.”

Barker said the Ministry should publish students’ performance across individual subject areas, arguing that the information is essential to understanding where Guyana’s education system is succeeding and where greater intervention may be needed.

“With that said, I call on the Ministry of Education to publish not only the top performers, but also the performance in each subject area and the country’s matriculation rate.”

His call comes as examination results traditionally generate considerable attention around students who achieve the highest grades and secure top positions. Barker’s position is that national educational performance cannot be adequately assessed through the achievements of top performers alone.

The matriculation rate, particularly the proportion of students obtaining five CSEC passes including Mathematics and English, provides a broader indication of the number of students leaving secondary school with qualifications that can facilitate employment and admission to higher education.

As an educator, Barker said students should also view their examination results as part of a longer academic journey rather than its conclusion. He stressed the importance of continuing education in an increasingly competitive economy.

“Do not let this be the end of your academic journey. I encourage you to continue studying. In this competitive world, it is important for you to pursue higher education to develop the knowledge and skills you require to make yourself more marketable.”

Barker acknowledged, however, that pursuing tertiary education immediately after secondary school is not financially possible for every student.

Drawing on his own experience, he said he faced severe economic challenges after completing secondary school and chose to work to help support his single-parent household. Employment, however, did not prevent him from eventually pursuing tertiary education.

“However, working did not stop me from pursuing tertiary education. I worked, saved what I could, and by the grace of God, I was able to continue my academic journey.”

Barker said his experience demonstrates that financial hardship does not necessarily have to end a person’s educational ambitions.

“My experience is a testament to God’s grace and mercy, and I share it to remind others who are facing similar situations that there is always another path towards achieving your goals. Never give up on your dreams! The world is yours to conquer.”

His intervention places the spotlight not only on examination outcomes but also on the information made available to the public about the state of Guyana’s education system.

Detailed subject-by-subject results could help identify areas of weakness and inform targeted interventions, while the national matriculation rate would provide parents, educators, policymakers and the wider public with a clearer picture of how many students have achieved the qualifications needed for further academic or vocational advancement.

Barker concluded by congratulating all students who sat the examinations and urging them to persevere regardless of their results.

“Once again, best wishes to all our learners who sat these examinations. Whatever your results are, continue learning and never give up on your dreams.”