6,102 standard six students took the Primary School Examination this year and the average score was 56 percent. The results were released on June 5th and today the top finishers were honored for their success. We were there as the national spotlight shone on the best of the primary school class of 2007. But even as they were being tributed for excelling on the PSE, the Education Minister was calling for the PSE to be treated with less importance. Keith Swift has the story.
Xux Ek Novelo, First Place in PSE
"This is a dream come true for me."
Xux Ek Novelo's dream came true this morning when Education Minister Francis Fonseca presented her with the Jane and Michael Nembhard Award.
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
"On behalf of the Ministry of Education, on behalf of the country of Belize, I present the 2007 Jane and Michael Nembhard Award to Miss Xux Ek Novelo."
Novelo shared the spotlight on the Bliss stage with the top 25 performers on the Primary School Examination. Novelo who is from Hummingbird Elementary School placed first, Goolue Xie from Bernice Yorke placed second, and Aaron Stock from Queen's Square and Yasel Acosta from Louisiana Government School tied for third. And if you are wondering what is the secret to their success of the top 25? These students agree it was good old-fashioned hard work which earned them a spot on stage.
Blanca de la Fuente, 17th Place - Louisiana Gov't School
"Just listen in class and I pretty much get what my teacher is teaching us."
Negrill Crawford, 9th Place - Louisiana Gov't School
"I payed attention in class and I comprehended and I studied also."
Keith Swift,
What advice do you have for students?
Negrill Crawford,
"Just try your best and be very confident in yourself."
Blanca de la Fuente,
"Listen in class and try your best."
And the students from Louisiana Government School in Orange Walk probably know
more about hard work and success than any others. Their school was the top performing government school and they had three students in the top twenty. Yasel Acosta tied for third.
Yasel Acosta, Placed 3rd
"I am very proud to be here, I am glad. It feels very happy. I am glad that my hard work paid off from all the studying and I thank my teachers and everybody for helping me and being with me all the way."
Yanira Copo, Yasel's Mother
"I can't express how proud I am. This is just a result of her hard work, dedication, and the sacrifice and I would like to give thanks to the Lord for allowing her to be able to do all of this."
Guadalupe Quetzal, Principal - Louisiana Gov't School
"We really feel proud of our students from our school. I think we started planning from standard four and the teachers that we have are very dedicated."
And one young man also dedicated is Aaron Stock. The Queen's Square Anglican School student tied with Yasel for third place. When he got the news two weeks ago he cried. This morning there were no tears, only smiles as he stood proudly beside his mom Beverly Stock.
Beverly Stock, Aaron's Mother
"I did expect him to perform well because he has always done well but maybe not so well."
Keith Swift,
What advice do you have for other parents?
Beverly Stock,
"Just work with their children, encourage them, be with them, try to listen to them and that is what it takes."
And Education Minister Francis Fonseca says it does because while Aaron and his mom are good examples, there is the flip side.
Hon. Francis Fonseca,
"There are too many cases of violence in our Belizean homes, too many cases of fathers who have abandoned their responsibilities, too many cases of abuse and neglect, too many fathers unemployed or imprisoned, too many mothers choosing the casino and the club over home and child - too many reasons to fail our children."
And while no one wants students to fail the PSE, Fonseca stressed that we also cannot afford to let the PSE fail our students. In a bold about face of policy, this morning Fonseca says the importance of the PSE should be lessened.
Hon. Francis Fonseca,
"Let us start the process of lessening the central importance of the Primary School Examination to primary school education. Testing and assessment are critically important but the primary school examination was not meant to be, nor should it be, the end all and be all of a child's primary school education."
An end to the PSE? Fonseca says no and those students who have taken and excelled on it say it's a good test.
Keith Swift,
What do you guys think about the PSE, should we get rid of it?
Goolie Xie, 2nd Place in PSE
"I don't think so because if we throw it away, how will you know if the schools are teaching he right stuff for them to go to high school."
Xux Ek Novelo,
"Well I don't think they should throw it away because you learn and everything and you want to know how much you know and what else to need to improve on.
Aaron Stock,
"I think it is a necessary test because I think the Ministry needs to know how the students are doing and if the teachers are doing their job."
And these top 25 finishers are perhaps the best proof that it was a job well done.
Alnng with the top 25 performers, students who performed best in the four subject areas were also recognized this morning. All the students were awarded book scholarships. In addition to a high school tuition scholarship as part of the Michael and Jane Nembhard award, Xux Ek Novelo was also awarded a brand new computer.
