School Challenge Quiz Showcases Outstanding Students from All Schools

The overall impression after release of the GSAT results is that, for the most part, a great number of the highest scoring students throughout the country are placed at Campion College. Campion College has come a long way from its former days as a private boys only school when it was not a popular choice among boys unless they were not successful in the Common Entrance Exam. The same feelings applied to girls who would not generally want to go to its sister school, St. Peters & Paul. So, both were the schools of last resort if students did not secure a place at their primary choice schools, St. Georges College or Immaculate Conception High School. However, today, Campion College is considered an elite high school and a popular choice among hundreds of thousands of students. This influential school is known for its state-of-the art equipment and well maintained facilities unlike other high schools where students may not have proper equipment, the facilities are dilapidated, and they may have to carry around their chairs since furniture is lacking in many classrooms. Nevertheless, the School Challenge Quiz, clearly demonstrate that the best and brightest students do not all gravitate to Campion College. The competition shows that there are outstanding students enrolled in other corporate area high schools and also rural schools. While these schools may not have picturesque surroundings and a college campus-like atmosphere similar to Campion College, they are still producing, through the dedication of hard-working teachers, the best and brightest students who are expected to excel in their future endeavors. Congratulations Tichfield High School on your 2016 School Challenge Championship win!

Segregation in Placement of GSAT Students

Cheinnel Francis burst into tears on learning she was awarded a place at Cedar Grove Academy in Portmore, St Catherine. Francis' scores in the 2015 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) ranged from 91 to 98 per cent."She cried both out of relief and out of sadness for not being placed at her first choice of Wolmer's Girls', or second choice, Campion. However, I would've transferred her to Cedar Grove Academy if they had placed her in any of those schools," says sister Kadia Francis.



The following response was posted by a FaceBook user ion Jamaica Gleaner's page in response to the above-referenced:

"This is NOT fair! If this system had still been around when I did GSAT, I would not have been able to go to Campion, coming from an inner-city community in Spanish Town. She does not deserve that placement. This may sound harsh but I do not even know of Cedar Grove Academy."

My response to the FaceBook user's post on Jamaica Gleaner's FaceBook was as follows:

"For those who do not know, Campion College was a Cedar Grove in the 70s and early 80s. Boys who could not gain enrollment into a traditional boys high school would go to Campion College when it was a boys only school. Its sister school St. Peters and Paul Girls School had the same reputation. However, after both schools joined the institution began to build its reputation. So, all should give Cedar Grove High School a chance. It is a STEM school and this designation indicates that the school has high performance standards and expectations for its students. Therefore, Cedar Grove High School needs an opportunity to build's its reputation just as Campion College/St. Peters and Paul had a chance to turn their unknown, last resort, and low performing status into a top school".
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This above noted communication indicates the need to revise the GSAT placement system. It is time to discontinue the segregated system of placing all top achievers to the well-known schools while placing lower performers to less recognized high schools. This division of students based on test scores means that the traditional high schools will continue to enjoy recognition as "top" performing schools for producing outstanding achievers. However, this type of recognition cannot be enjoyed by less recognized schools which are not given a chance to be competitive with traditional schools if they do not receive an equal share of the top GSAT students. However, the Ministry of Education continues to bend to public pressure of maintaining the ineffective placement system that is not serving so many Jamaican students.