Think tank school rankings gain ministry's disapproval

Jovan Johnson, Gleaner Writer



The Education Ministry says it disapproves of a think tank’s ranking of what it claims to be the best and worst performing Jamaican high schools based on the results of the 2012 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams.



Educatejamaica.org says its best secondary schools’ guide is designed to help parents and guardians to select the best schools to send their children.



It bases its school-ranking on the percentage of students from each school who attain five or more subjects in CSEC exams.



Education Minister Ronald Thwaites, says there are questions about the methodology used to carry out the research.



He says such rankings do not help to improve perceptions of schools as the comparison is made between schools that receive high quality Grade Six Achievement Test grades and schools that receive low passes.



Thwaites says CSEC results, while useful, represent only one measure in assessing the performance of schools.



Ainswroth Darby, chairman of educatejamaica.org says the rankings are not designed to embarrass or shame any school but to give parents an insight into the performance of schools so that they may select the best school.



One-hundred-and-sixty-two public schools were ranked, with Campion College being rated the best and Donald Quarrie High ranked the lowest.



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