Daryll Jordan students doing well

There was a step away from tradition and online platforms were used in a greater way at the Daryll Jordan Secondary School during the academic 2018-2019.

Principal Stephen Jackman informed the audience of this as he delivered remarks during the recent Speech Day and Prize Giving Ceremony in the school’s hall. Fifty-two persons made the Principal’s Honour Roll.

“I wish to inform you that catering to differentiate learning styles in an environment of austerity is not easy, but these teachers have made every effort to create appropriate materials for students. During the year, there was greater use of Google suite of products including the Google Classroom to disseminate notes and collect assignments. There was the use of WhatsApp groups to hold discussions and to implement and augment the traditional classroom practices, and teachers continue to hold traditional lessons at Easter [and] after school, often free of cost to assist students.”

Turning his attention to speak about external exams, he said 120 students – 60 boys and 60 girls – sat Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations in 315 subjects. These students “received 201 grades 1, 2 or 3 giving a pass rate of 64 per cent”. The males achieved a 66 per cent pass rate to the girls’ 62 per cent.

“There were 24 grade ones with EDPM taking ten, Physical Education and Sport six and Technical Drawing five.”

He added, “When we disaggregate these results by subject, Physical Education and Sport for the 12th straight time recorded 100 per cent pass rates. It was joined by EDPM, Food Nutrition and Health, Office Administration, Principles of Business and Technical Drawing. Of special mention is English Language, which over the last three examination sessions has recorded a 33 per cent, 53 per cent and in the last year a 77 per cent pass rate.”

Speaking about the pupils’ performance in the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC), Jackman said, “In English 66 per cent received a designation of either master or competent, 72 per cent in Integrated Science, 48 per cent in Mathematics and a whopping 86 per cent in Social Studies. Please note that across all four subjects the female students soundly outperformed their male counterparts.”

Meanwhile, touching on the performances in internal examinations, he stated the school’s results “for the most part are comparable with 2018”. He made special mention of the fact that “first forms recorded pass rates of above 50 per cent in all subjects examined”. He however said this trend was not maintained throughout the school.

He further stated, “English, however, was able to maintain above 50 per cent in the first, second and third forms and above; 40 per cent in the fourth and fifth forms. Social Studies showed 76 per cent in the first forms, 33 per cent in the second, 54 per cent in the third, 45 per cent in the fourth and 49 per cent in the fifth. Spanish showed an interesting anomaly, recording above 50 per cent in first and fifth forms but well below this in other forms. It is clear there is still some work to be done and the need for students to take these examinations seriously.”