CSEC pass rate for Math remains constant because of ‘shift’ in exam – Chief Education Officer

The Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examination (CSEC) Mathematics pass rate remains constant at 43%, the same as last year.

According to Chief Education Officer, Dr Marcel Hutson there was a shift in the examination and this resulted in the pass rate remaining the same.

“There was a little shift in terms of the paper, the structure of the paper, the concept was there and so the shift kind of throw some of our children off track,” Dr Hutson said.

He was speaking at the official announcement of this year’s CSEC and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) results at the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) in Kingston Georgetown.

“Mathematics is a subject area that requires lots of practice and familiarity with the different strands and therefore concentration will be focused on those particular areas,” Dr Hutson said.

Dr Hutson assured that next year there will be an increase in pass rates in mathematics.

“We are in a hopeful position and come next year you will see an improvement in mathematics.”

According to Dr Hutson, the improvement in other subject areas are as a result of workshops and training sessions to build capacity with teachers.

“Effective education delivery requires a level of vigilance and dedication on the part of all our stakeholders,” Dr Hutson said.

He said the education sector will seek to promote higher standards for teachers.

“Teacher educators are strategically positioned to serve as catalysts for the required change in education delivery and outcomes since they are able to model the teaching that demonstrates content, professional knowledge skills and dispositions reflecting research, proficiency with technology and assessment and accepted best practices.”