The struggle continues Failing schools far from mastery

Nadisha Hunter, Staff Reporter

The six primary schools identified for close scrutiny by former Education Minister Andrew Holness, due to their dismal performance in the 2010-2011 Grade Four Literacy Test, have again failed to perform up to standard in the Grade Four Numeracy Test, results of which were published last week.

The schools - Mount Vernon Primary in St Thomas, Rose Hill Primary in Manchester, Wanstead Primary in Clarendon, and Hamwalk, Juan de Bolas and Springvale Primary - all failed to record a single case of mastery.

They are among 74 public primary schools which recorded between zero and 19 per cent students obtaining mastery in the 2010-2011 sitting of the test.

The latter three primary schools are located in St Catherine, which is one of the parishes with the overall worst performance in the examination.

Closing Schools not an option

Shortly after the results were released, Education Minister Ronald Thwaites said while he was not considering closing the schools, intervention was needed. However, he did not specify further.

Last year, then Education Minister Andrew Holness said all the schools had been given targets to work with and it was time for action as some schools had not lived up to expectations. He said he would not rule out closing down the schools which were not performing.

But, according to Thwaites, it remains an emphasis of the ministry to reorganise these schools so that they will achieve better results in the examinations.

"In many cases, the primary schools are faltering, but the facilities in the basic schools need much better accommodation than they have at present, and that relates to the situation in the primary schools because parents don't want to send their children there because generally those who come there are not well prepared.

The minister said the greatest challenge for literacy and numeracy lies in the small schools, that is, the basic schools.

nadisha.hunter@gleanerjm.com