GRACE CHRISTIAN, BAPTIST ACADEMY, AND ST. NICHOLAS TOP GRADE 6 ASSESSMENTS, WHILE FIVE ISLANDS BOYS MAKE ACADEMIC STATEMENT

Grace Christian Academy and Baptist Academy are enjoying the distinction of producing the top female and male students in this year’s Grade Six National Assessment.

The Director of Education, Clare Browne, recognized Aliane E. Challenger and Damaya N.J. Bird today, July 2, when the Ministry of Education released its annual Top 100 results.

St. Nicholas Primary School dominated the Top 10, claiming five of the 10 coveted places.

Tavez E.T. Edwards from Jennings Primary and Donella Lewis from Mary E. Pigott Primary placed highest among the 14 students from government schools, while Five Islands Primary earned the distinction of having four pupils in the elite group.

Due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the Ministry of Education to move to e-learning last year, no Grade Six Assessments were held.

However, the Director notes that, through the efforts of the teachers, students, and parents, this year’s candidates managed to perform at a high standard, with acceptable grades at Level 1 and Level 2 passes – being just below 90 per cent. 

Minister of Education Daryl Matthew commended those who made this possible despite a year full of challenges.

Meanwhile, Director Browne notes that male students continue to lag behind the girls in terms of academic achievement.  However, he points out that this is not peculiar to Antigua & Barbuda, but is a worldwide phenomenon.

He says the Ministry of Education is working to close the achievement gap, and the work begins with making sure that boys do not record as many absences or drop out of school entirely.

Accordingly, Browne was careful to single out and highly commend the three male students who are among the four high-achievers from the Five Islands Primary.

Fourteen hundred and fifty-one Grade-sixers in 57 schools – public and private – took part in the assessment, which was done utilizing school work, homework, projects and tests taken during the school year.

Assignment to secondary schools will be made according to assessment placement, plus health, safety, special needs, and residence, the Ministry of Education says.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.