St. Nicholas student edges out Baptist Academy by three points to claim top spot in Grade Six National Assessment exams
The results of the Grade Six National Assessment have been
released, with 91 percent of the students meeting an acceptable
grade for placement into a secondary school. The math results were
also exceptional in 2023, the Ministry of Education says.
Taking the top spot this year was Sophia L. Aflak, a female student
from the St. Nicholas Primary, with an overall score of 379 out of a
possible 400. She beat Matthew P.A. Dorsett, from the Baptist
Academy, into second place by three points, while another Baptist
pupil, Elanyah K. Tanner, took the third-place spot.
Twelve government schools made the list of top performers, with
the highest-scoring among them being a girl from the Golden Grove
Primary who placed seventh overall.
Three public schools shared the highest number of student passes
on the list – Golden Grove Primary, JT Ambrose, and Old Road
Primary with four students each in the Top 100.
This year, the performance of the male students was top notch in
comparison to previous years, according to Ineta Francis, the
assistant director of education measurement and evaluation.
Some 1,318 students – 652 girls and 666 boys – sat the exams,
which were administered in early June.
From the government schools there were 738 students – 357
females and 381 males – while from the private educational
institutions there were 295 females and 284 males, for a total of 579.
There was one male home-schooled student.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education is again putting its foot down
on requests for the transfer of students from one school to another.
In a press release issued on Friday, July 7, Director of Education
Clare Browne advises the public that transfers will not be granted to
parents/guardians making requests on behalf of Grade Six students
– except in unique circumstances.
The release says that since the results of the Grade Six National
Assessment was released that morning, the Ministry has been
bombarded with requests for alternative secondary-school
placements.
According to Browne, in unique circumstances, the reasons for these
requests must be compelling and will be carefully reviewed before a
decision is made to grant or deny them.
Further, the release says, requests must be made in writing to the
director of education and addressed to the Ministry of Education on
Queen Elizabeth Highway.
Decisions will be communicated to applicants via letters, the release
notes. It firmly states that appointments to meet with the director
are not allowed.
