Improved CSEC passes for rural schools

• Mutual Building Societies Foundation offers much-needed aid
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SIX RURAL high schools are experiencing a performance boost as a result of major intervention.

Speaking at a Gleaner Editors' Forum recently, programme manager at Mutual Building Societies Foundation (MBSF) Dr Renee Rattray said the high schools, in which the foundation operates its $100-million Centres of Excellence programme, have improved their performance in math, language and the sciences in spite of the slight dip in performances with Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations across the Caribbean this year.

The high schools are McGrath in St Catherine, Mile Gully and Porus in Manchester, Seaforth in St Thomas, Green Pond in St James and Godfrey Stewart in Westmoreland.

Dr Rattray said the programme will reveal the schools' performances in the subject areas soon.

"We have seen significant improvements in the culture of the schools," she told the forum.

"The schools have become attuned to having high expectations. I think the levels of expectations have risen tremendously," she added, noting that the schools have been provided with expert intervention, software and other state-of-the-art equipment and facilities to strengthen their performance.

The programme manager said the schools' leadership has also been strengthened significantly.

Dr Rattray, who is herself a former principal, said the schools were chosen by the MBSF for development because rural schools face the most acute shortage of resources.

The Centres of Excellence, which was created by the Victoria Mutual Building Society and the Jamaica National Building Society-operated MBSF in 2008, is scheduled to end next year.