Average or Low Scoring CXC Performers Can Succeed Too

The British Caribbean education system throughout the years has been established to give students the impression that they are failures if they do not perform exceptionally well on standardized tests such as Jamaica's Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) to warrant acceptance into a prominent high school. Furthermore, hopes are dashed when their average passes on Caribbean Exam Council (CXC) assessments will not earn them immediate acceptance into the University of the West Indies (UWI) or to universities in United States if they do not have the exorbitant fees to pay private companies to get them through the rigorous admissions process. However, where there is a will, there is a way. So, many who eventually have been given the chance to migrate have made use of the opportunities to study and become accomplished in their professions. We see their photos often in newspapers, their images on television, and hear their voices on radio programs. Although they may become recognized leaders in their own right, it is not public knowledge the path some of these successful individuals have taken to become the accomplished persons they are today. These individuals realized that they may not have been considered the best and brightest students in their own Caribbean countries but could succeed instead in other countries that have provided all persons with the chance to achieve their educational ambitions without limiting opportunities only for the brightest students. They made an effort to overcome their native countries' public education system of indifference towards average students. On the other hand, many who have now become well-known lawyers, doctors, business persons, bankers, etc. would rather maintain the secret of their enrollment in stigmatized secretarial colleges or vocational or technical schools, etc. upon completing high school. The entry level jobs that they worked at while attending colleges or universities abroad are also a chapter in their lives that they may not want to be known. Yet, they cannot deny that the difficult path taken have made them the persons who they are today. They received educational opportunities elsewhere that made them as successful as or even more successful, in some cases, than those whose path was never impeded by an education system that measures student achievement solely on a single day's performance on a test.

Are Extra Lesson Exam Services Effective?

"What a way Jamaica have schools!" My father exclaimed this thought while reading the classified section of the Jamaica Gleaner's Sunday edition. Later, I was curious to find out what he meant and quickly realized that the school classified section was filled with education services pandering to those students who are taking or re-taking CXC exams. Claims of success filled the pages such as "pass your CAPE exam in only one year and get into university", "the best CXC classes", "the best math product ever", "excellent achievement record" "we offer the best teaching in Jamaica" to name a few. Looking at so many ads makes one wonder about the level of teaching in the high schools to cause so many to see a need to establish their own extra lesson services. Even the Minister of Education has verified that the recent CXC results show a decline as overall students in Jamaica continue to perform poorly in many subject areas. Nevertheless, how effective are these extra lesson services? Are these services primarily taught by trained teachers who are aware of the varied learning needs of students or others who may not have a clue? Are learning techniques implemented based on the student's needs or are the same non-productive class procedures used? It would be interesting to know how really effective these services are in helping students to pass the tests.