You've heard the bad news already: just under 6,000 students sat the PSE and more than half of them scored less than 50%. But there were those students who beat the odds and excelled and for all that hard work, today was their time to shine as the cream of the 2005 crop of graduating Standard 6 students were honored this morning at the annual Primary School Examination Awards ceremony. _Keith Swif_t has the story.
Keith Swift Reporting, Email - [keithkswift@gmail.com]
By now you probably already know Lilian Shen from Belize Elementary School who topped the PSE. This morning the spotlight was back on her as she received the Jane and Michael Nembhard high school scholarship at the PSE awards ceremony.
Lilian Shen, 1at Place PSE
[Acceptance Speech] "I feel proud and honored to receive this award. I was actually very surprised when I heard that I came in first as most of you saw on television."
And while their faces might not have made the headlines, these are the other students from across the country who also excelled on the exam. Students like Athena Swasey from Pancotto Primary School in Sandhill Village. Athena achieved the highest score in English including a perfect score on writing.
Athena Swasey, Pancotto Primary School
"I means a lot to me because I know I brought some recognition to my school and I am very proud of myself."
Jules Vasquez,
What would your advice to other students who will sit the PSE?
Athena Swasey,
"They need to read a lot, to study hard, and just more or less just listen in class and you will pass...and also pray."
Belize Elementary School captured 12 out of the top 25 spots - one of which went to Emaun Hyde who tied for the 6th highest score out of all 6,000 entrants. Emaun is the daughter of 7NEWS' very own Indira Craig and I couldn't resist the interview opportunity.
Emaun Hyde, Belize Elementary School
"It
feels great and it feels outstanding because you know that you studied so hard and then it all paid of in the end."
Keith Swift,
What was the secret to your success?
Emaun Hyde,
"Listen in class and just review before the exam, don't cram before the exam because then you won't do that well because you'll get too nervous."
Other out-district stars of the PSE are Ning Miao Hsu from Mount Carmel Primary in Benque and Joseph Singleton from Our Lady of Guadalupe in Belmopan who shared the keys to their success.
Joseph Singleton, Our Lady of Guadalupe
"The math was very difficult, to say the least. The fact that I did good does mean more to me because it means that I could do better in the future and try harder."
Ning Miao Hsu, Mount Carmel Primary School
"I feel excited and happy. My advice would just be to start studying from a long time. Start studying everything you learn in school and review everything."
But that's for next year - today it was a celebration for these students at the Bliss. Entertainment came courtesy dance performances from the top two schools, according to the PSE, in the country: Hummingbird and Belize Elementary.
And while these students celebrated the results of their hard work - thousands of their peers who didn't do well are in anguish over their results. More than half of all Belize's standard 6 students failed the exam, which Education Minister Francis Fonseca conceded this morning. But he isn't ready to throw out the PSE just yet.
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
"Some have also questioned the continuing relevance and purpose of the PSE. Has the exam lost its utility? Is it an unfair reflection of our students' abilities? Do we need to radically revise it or even eliminate it, as some have suggested? While no one view or opinion holds the entire answer, my friends, I find some truth and legitimacy in each of these. This year we will not say that all is lost and sit in despair. No, we have to dig deeper, we have to work harder, and refocus our plans and energies on those critical areas we have identified which we believe are essential ingredients in building a quality education system."
And they would be wise to start with these students on this stage who have already taken the PSE - a test that has bedeviled thousands - but which these young people not only passed, but excelled on.
Lilian Shen received the high school scholarship as well as a fully loaded computer. The other top 25 finishers received book scholarships.
This morning the Examination Unit of the Ministry of Education also noted the top performing schools. Hummingbird and Belize Elementary Schools, both private, placed first and second respectively. The Bernice Yorke Institute which is also a private school placed third. Noteworthy is that the top performing public school was Grace Primary, which placed 6th overall. St. Andrews Anglican from Cayo followed at 7th place and St. Paul's Anglican from Corozal placed 12th.
Related Story
. PSE Results: From Bad to Worse
. PSE Top Finishers
