Madam Speaker, the preliminary results of the 2022 CXC Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examinations were released on Monday, 5^th September, 2022. As is customary, the students of the Territory of the Virgin Islands participated in these examinations. 261 students wrote the examinations, 203 from our public schools and 58 from our private schools.

Madam Speaker, the 2021-2022 academic year, although it brought with it several challenges, did not hinder our students from writing the annual CXC CSEC examinations. Based on an analysis of the Territory’s performance, for this year, students achieved the following overall results. Out of 993 subject entries, the awards achieved were as follows: 220 Grade Ones; 316 Grade Twos; 205 Grade Threes; 112 Grade Fours; 13 Grade Fives and 127 for the category of ‘Other’. Madame Speaker, ‘Other’ refers to absenteeism, deferrals or ungraded work. An accepted pass indicated by Grades I, II and III.

It is interesting to note that not all institutions produced candidates who wrote eight subjects in 2021/2022. The reason for this is that several students wrote a few of the CSEC examinations in the previous year, 2020/2021. Results of examinations written in a year, are recorded in that year; no combining of subject passes occur across years.

Madam Speaker, there were several subjects for which the pass rate was 100%: Agricultural Science; Caribbean History; Economics; English B (Literature); Family and Resource Management; Food, Nutrition & Health; Industrial Technology (Building); Industrial Technology (Mechanical); Office Administration; and Physical Education & Sport.

In addition, Madam Speaker, those CSEC examinations for which there were pass rates from 90 – 99% were: Biology; Chemistry; English A (Language); Information Technology; Integrated Science; Principles of Accounts; Principles of Business; Physics; and Human & Social Biology.

Madam Speaker, a comparison of the English A and Mathematics results showed that the English A pass rate was 96.05% which represented an increase of 12.6% over 2021. Regarding the Mathematics, there was an overall pass rate of 56.45%, which also represented an increase of 8.81%, over that of 2021.

This year, the subject which resulted in the least acceptable pass rate was Industrial Technology (Electrical) at 28.57%.

Madam Speaker, one issue that possibly hinders better student performance in CXC CSEC subjects is that of the time allocated for each subject. The shift system which took place last school year, and is presently occurring this year, did not allow for the recommended amount of time to be allocated for each subject. A comparison between the time recommended by CXC for each subject and the schedule prepared by the Elmore Stoutt High School, for example, led to the following findings:

1. For English A, CXC recommends six periods weekly; however only four 40-minute sessions were scheduled;
2. For English B, the time of four weekly sessions recommended by CXC was the time scheduled;
3. For Caribbean History, the recommended time is four 40-minute sessions; however, only three 30-minute sessions were scheduled;
4. For Geography, the recommended time is five 40-minute sessions; however, only three 40-minute sessions were scheduled;
5. For Social Studies, the recommended time is four 40-minute sessions; however, only three 40-minute sessions were scheduled;
6. For Theatre Arts, the recommended time of two double sessions weekly was scheduled;
7. For French, the recommended time is five 40-minute sessions, including one double period; however, only four 40-minute sessions were scheduled;
8. For Spanish, the finding is the same as for French;
9. For Mathematics, there should be six periods weekly; however, four 40-minute sessions were scheduled;
10. For all Sciences, the recommended time is five 40-minute sessions including one double period’; however, only three 40-minute sessions were scheduled;
11. For Physical Education, the recommended time is three hours weekly; however, only four 40-minute sessions were scheduled;
12. For all Business subjects, the recommended time is five 40-minute sessions; however, only four 40-minute sessions were scheduled;
13. For all Technical and Vocational subjects, the recommended time is six 40-minute sessions; however only four were scheduled;
14. For Visual Arts, the recommended time is four 45-minute sessions as two double sessions weekly for each area therein; however, only four 40-minute sessions were scheduled.

With the much anticipated change from the shift system to full-day schooling, this year, with the exception of the Sciences, all subjects will be allotted the recommended time or more than the recommended time. Recommended times from CXC are based on two-year time frames; our schedule is based on a three-year schedule for most students. Our advanced students, however, are able to take CSEC examinations in two years. In addition, Madame Speaker, consideration must also be given to the time spent in transporting students between campuses to attend their lab classes last school year.

Finally, Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to announce that the Territory’s highest achievers are Sarah Ramdatt of St. George’s Secondary in 1^st place with passes in 8 subjects, including Mathematics and English A, with six Grade Is and two Grade IIs, Jade Smith of BVI Seventh Day Adventist Secondary in 2^nd place with passes in 8 subjects, including Mathematics and English A, with six Grade Is, one Grade II and one Grade III and Reina Wheatley of Claudia Creque Educational Centre in 3^rd place with passes in 7 subjects, including Mathematics and English A, with six Grade Is and one Grade III.

I offer my sincere congratulations to these top three students and to all others who were able to receive acceptable passes in their various subjects, thereby making the Territory of the Virgin Islands proud.

Madam Speaker, I reiterate that the aforementioned is based on CXC’s preliminary results. It is important, therefore, to note that changes to awards may be made after student queries are dealt with or after CXC has received the missing submissions to finalise grades. Such changes may either lead to the result being changed for the better or remaining the same. The final results are expected to be out in two months following this exercise.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, once again, I extend sincere congratulations to the students, their teachers and their parents for these awesome results. Together, let’s continue to move Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead.

Thank you Madam Speaker.