Students get exposure on additional school year

| 25/05/2010

(CNS): Young people who will be moving into year twelve will have unprecedented opportunities in this additional year of compulsory education Chief Education Officer Shirley Wahler said at the recent Year 12 Expo. Scores of students and their parents attended the event hosted by the Ministry of Education and Department of Education Services and gave students a glimpse of the myriad options available for them to pursue in the mandatory last year. The year 12 programme is part of a major restructuring, which will see the implementation of two “all-through” high schools. These schools will replace the current middle- and high-school arrangements, come September, 2010.

 
“This is really a milestone for the Cayman Islands education system. It’s the beginning of a big change,” said Wahler. “Students who are now in Year 11, moving into Year 12, will have opportunities this September that are just unprecedented, and we’re really excited to see them taking the first step."
 
Explaining that students must start submitting their applications for programme selections soon, she said that a survey would also be conducted to determine the areas of highest demand.
She said howver that successful admission to programmes will depend heavily on external exam results. “Once results are in, we’ll have consultations with students. Their parents will also have a chance for input before the final decision is made,” Wahler added.
 
The Ministry of Education’s Chief Officer Mary Rodrigues said the guidance and counselling phase before entry to the programme was important. “Students cannot just sign up for a programme and tell us ‘this is what I want to do,’ she said explaining that the DES will review each student’s choices and then a decision, based on what’s best for each student, will be made. She said this will ensure that participating students meet graduation requirements.
 
The mandatory Year 12 programme is part of a major restructuring, which will see theimplementation of two “all-through” high schools. These schools will replace the current middle- and high-school arrangements, come September, 2010.
 
The programme will offer second chances for students who wish to improve their CXC/GCSE grades. It also will provide new learning opportunities – such as technical and vocational programmes – that complement current UCCI certificate courses.
Depending on CXC/GCSE passes, students also will have the option to pursue either GCE ‘A’ levels at the private schools that offer this programme, or an associate’s degree at UCCI.
 
The Year 12 Expo was the last in a series of events and initiatives designed to inform persons who will be affected by the education transition, the government said. “These included several parent/student surveys; radio appearances; meetings with affected home school- and parent teacher associations; and meetings with years 5 and 6 primary school teachers, students and their parents.
 
Several meetings and presentations, involving teachers, students and parents from George Hicks and John Gray high schools, were also conducted.           
 
For more information on the education transition, or mandatory Year 12 Programme, visit www.education.gov.ky and click on Education Transformation Blog at the bottom right of the home page.
 
 
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  1. Anonymous says:
    26/05/2010 at 9:19 am

     

    We should commend the steps taken to improve the education system.  However, can we please adjust the criteria for graduating i.e. minimal requirement for graduating is school attendance?  Why aren’t CXC passes not taken into consideration?  What about grade point averages?  These issues have been discussed for years.  If the students aren’t making the grade keep them back. 
    However, this is not an attack on the teachers, as our society in general always seeks to find a scapegoat to blame for our failures.  We need parents to be more attentive, insuring their children complete assignments, homework, course work etc. Kudos to the parents that take the necessarily preparation to insure they children take pride in their educational achievements but unfortunately good parents are the minority. 
    Education begins at home, if we as parents cannot find the time to ensure our children are performing at their best, we ultimately be at fault if they fail. As parents, it is our duty to ensure our children are prepared for this world.
    My two cents.     
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