This morning the Ministry of Education honoured Belize's brightest high school and sixth form students at the annual CXC Awards Ceremony. More than 214 students received certificates of excellence, achievement, and recognition. Keith Swift has the story.
Keith Swift Reporting,
The spotlight shone brightest on Christopher Chang from Saint John's College. The 17 year old passed 12 CXCs – earning him the distinction as most outstanding candidate.
Christopher Chang, Most Outstanding Candidate (CSEC)
"I am deeply honoured to receive these awards today. This honour is not achieved on my own but is a reflection of all the support, love, understanding and dedication of my mom and dad, my maternal and paternal grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, teachers, and friends - in effect, my village. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child."
And Jordan Medina probably also grew up in that village. He passed 12 CXCs with a grade one and was the outstanding candidate.
Jordan Medina, Outstanding Candidate
"I feel very proud. It was unexpected really but I'd like to
thank my parents for pushing me the whole way for doing something like this. It is a real confidence builder. I expected to do well but I don't aim to get awards. I just aim to do my very best."
18 year old Crystal Allen from SCA passed all her CXCs and won four subject awards – even though she was ill when she sat them.
Crystal Allen, Won 4 Subject Awards
"I did not expect it at all. I studied but at the time I was also ill so I was shocked and was very happy when I got the news and I went to pick up my invitation at Saint Catherine's. I was sick throughout the 2 months so I kind of slipped off but I guess God helped me."
Keith Swift,
So what was your secret?
Crystal Allen,
"My secret? I tried to listen in class throughout the two years and
I also do my homework and I study during that time so I think that kind of helped me. Just study hard, listen to your teachers and you should do well."
Jordan Medina,
"Make sure you prepare ahead of time so when the actual CXCs come you can just relax and through them."
And now that they are through them:
Christopher Chang,
"I at junior college right now, St. John's Junior College, and I am going to finish my two years and I intend to seek a career in the medical field abroad, maybe in the US."
Jordan Medina,
"After junior college I would like to attend one of the best engineering universities in Canada which is world renowned and I would like to be a great engineer."
Crystal Allen,
"Right now I am going at SJC JC and I am majoring in biology and chemistry. I am not sure yet what I want to be so I'll just major in that for now."
And according to Education Minister Patrick Faber – these students can be whatever they want to be.
Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
"These students are indeed smart but not because they are bright or intelligent but because they knew what they wanted to achieve and they worked very hard to get it."
But Faber tempered this morning's celebration with a reality check.
Hon. Patrick Faber,
"Today we celebrate the achievement of students and schools but as
we celebrate the success of these students and schools, I ask you to think of the students and schools not represented here today.
The issue of access and equity speak to the question of whom do we educate. To be honest at the secondary level we are not doing such a good job. The statistics show that net enrolment at the secondary level is only about 45%. That is only about 45% of the secondary level age group in the population are enrolled in secondary education. This is unacceptable. How can we say we want to have productive citizens if less than half of the age of that group is enrolled in secondary education? We must do better. This means we must find ways of increasing enrolment."
And further than that – Faber hinted at a radical reform of the way government funds high schools.
Hon. Patrick Faber,
"We must find ways of ensuring that the government resources, the government finances for secondary education is allocated in a way that achieves the greatest good for the greatest number. This means re-examining the current method of financing of secondary education to ensure the greatest good for the greatest number. Now I know that this makes some schools feel very uneasy but I believe that we must."
And while in our story we only profiled the top achievers on the Caribbean Secondary Examinations Council exams, the top performers on the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exams – or ‘A' levels as they are known were also honoured this morning. At the top of that class was Ian Lizarraga from SJC Junior College who received the only certificate of excellence for receving a grade one or two in more than 6 subjects. He won a scholarship and a laptop computer. 20 other students received Certificates of Achievement in individual subjects and 10 students received Certificates of Recognition.
