Minister for Education and Culture, Honourable Myron V. Walwyn has highlighted the benefits of implementing the additional school year, or 12th Grade in the Territory’s public schools.

Honourable Walwyn in a statement delivered at the House of Assembly sitting earlier today told Members that it is the intention of the Ministry of Education to ensure that graduates from this education system are able to matriculate to any credible tertiary institution or be qualified for any entry level job position.

Honourable Walwyn stated, “There will be a cohort of students graduating in 2017 from secondary schools in this Territory who would have already been dually enrolled at the community college and having earned ten or more college credits, five or more CSEC certifications, CAPE certifications, and a high school diploma. These will be the most qualified and best prepared students leaving secondary school in the Territory, and that Madame Speaker must be our focus.”

The Minister said, while in Grades 10, 11, and 12, students will engage in studies towards their career path and preparation for external examinations as they prepare for tertiary education or employment.

In addition to being better prepared for college, Honourable Walwyn said that the focus is on student maturity, mastery of skills, life skills and employment readiness skills. The Minister spoke about a credit programme which will be introduced to allow students in Grades 10, 11 and 12 to earn credits towards graduation.  A total of 25 credits can be earned each year with a 60 credit minimum for graduation. 

One major benefit is that students in Grade 12 have the option of dual enrolment. To that end, Honourable Walwyn explained, “Students who write and pass five or more CSEC subjects in Grade 11 with Grade One or Grade Two passes, will be eligible to enrol in the CAPE programme in Grade 12. These students will also become dually enrolled at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC).”

He added, “Successful completion of the examination will entitle the student to earn college credits for the unit completed. One CAPE unit completed will merit ten credits at HLSCC.  These credits will be applied to the Associates Degree at [HLSCC]…students will have the option of completing Unit 2 of CAPE at [HLSCC].”

Honourable Walwyn also said that the dual enrolment option will “forge a stronger relationship between the secondary and tertiary levels”.

The Secondary Education Programme consists of six years which have been divided equally between the Junior and Senior Secondary School. The Junior Secondary School spans three grade levels which are Grades 7, 8 and 9 and the Senior Secondary covers Grades 10, 11 and 12.

The Ministry of Education and Culture is committed to creating a “Culture of Excellence”.