Education Minister: Students Test Results
During a press conference this afternoon [Nov 26] the Minister of Education Dame Jennifer Smith delivered the 2009/2010 test results for the Primary, Middle and Senior school students.
Her full statement follows below:
Good afternoon, I think by now you all know that education is my passion.
That said, when I assumed the role of Minister of Education, I was quite aware that getting our education system back on track would present its share of challenges. But I also knew that there was a solid foundation on which to build. That foundation includes dedicated Ministry professionals, principals and teachers who understand that delivering a quality education to all our students is a national priority.
I am glad that – as a key player – the Board of Education understands and supports this priority. In fact, The Education Act 1996 gives the Board the responsibility to “evaluate, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Education, the performance of schools….” therefore, it is fitting that joining me today is the Deputy Chair of the Board Mr. Vincent Ingham and Commissioner of Education Mrs. Wendy McDonnell.
Ladies and gentlemen, one of the ways to measure the progress, skill level and aptitude of our students at each level (primary, middle and senior) is to administer proficiency tests in the core areas of study, such as English, Mathematics, Science and the Arts.
Over the past two school years, the Terra Nova Second Edition, the Bermuda Criterion-Referenced Test (BCRT), the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), City and Guilds, the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), the Assessment and Qualification Alliance (AQA), the National Centre for Construction Education and Research (NCCR), Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC3), and EDEXCELL (functional skills) have all been used in reporting student performance in Bermuda’s Public School System.
Today, I will announce the results of the various assessments at the primary, middle and senior levels and Mr. Ingham will present the 2010 Graduation results. The Commissioner of Education, Ms. Wendy McDonell will answer any questions you may have.
For the benefit of background I think it’s important to explain the various criteria used to measure student performance.
The TerraNova Second Edition is a norm-referenced test administered to students in Primary 3 through to Senior 2. The areas of assessment are Reading, Language and Mathematics, based on general skills and concepts at each grade level.
The Terra Nova is used for two primary purposes:
- To track performance against an external educational student body in broad academic areas;
- The results are used as a basis for the design and evaluation of strategies introduced to improve performance.
Results:
The combined score for Reading, Language and Mathematics ranks our Primary 3 students at the mid-point against their US peer group. Grade levels reporting at the mid-point or higher, include P 3 and P 4 for Language and Mathematics, P 5 for Language and P 6 for Reading and Language. The 2010 Terra Nova results at the primary level indicate no change.
The M 1 results in Mathematics and Language were lower than last year; while the M 2 and M 3 results for Mathematics and the M 2 results for Language were higher than expected. M 2 and M 3 results for Language were at the middle or higher ranking.
At the senior level, the news is less heartening. No year level reported a score at or above the mid-point. However, students at this level undertake a barrage of tests and the Terra Nova is not one students consider crucial to graduation requirements.
The Bermuda Criterion–Referenced Test (BCRT) is a criterion referenced test designed to measure a student’s knowledge of the Bermuda Public School Curriculum in English Language Arts and Mathematics.
The four achievement levels used are: Advanced (scores ranging from 85% to 100%), Proficient (scores ranging from 60% to 84%), Partially Proficient (scores ranging from 45% to 59%) and Novice (scores of 44% and lower).
Results:
As a note, 66.97% of Primary School students (P3-P6) demonstrated proficiency in English Language Arts; while 75.66% demonstrated proficiency in Mathematics. Within the grade levels, more than 70% of P 3 students are proficient in English Language, Arts and Mathematics; more than 70% of P 6 students are proficient in English Language Arts; and more than 70% of P 4 students are proficient in Mathematics.
At the Middle School level, 99.58% of M1-M3 students demonstrated proficiency in English Language Arts. As a note 41.73% of students demonstrated proficiency in Mathematics. System wide, more than 70% of M 1 students demonstrated proficiency in English Language Arts.
At the Senior School level, 76.06% of S1 and S2 students demonstrated proficiency in the English Language Arts; while 22.96% demonstrated proficiency in Mathematics.
The BCRT test scores indicate a mathematics concern at the middle and senior levels. The Terra Nova test scores highlight a concern with the transition from P6 to M1.
Together, these results give a picture of areas where our students are doing well and areas that need to be targeted for improvement.
Ladies and gentlemen, I know that Bermudians recognise the transforming power of education. Simply put, the future belongs to those Countries who can best educate their people.
While our challenges are many, I don’t believe they are insurmountable. Rather, I believe that we must all be held accountable for making every school a great school and ensuring excellence in education for every student.
I will now hand you over to the Deputy Chair of the Board of Education, Mr. Vincent Ingham, to give you the results of the Senior School assessments.
Thank you.
Would someone please mention these figures to our Junior Education Minister, who is quoted in today’s paper as saying, “To say that our public school system is lacking is not really honest” (http://www.royalgazette.com/rg/Article/article.jsp?articleId=7dabd3730030004§ionId=60). 22.96% proficiency in mathematics at senior school level sounds pretty damn lacking to me.
22.96%. That number needs to be on the desk of every parent, student, teacher and administrator for the entire school year. That’s just an embarrassment, that figure alone.
I thought all these test results were supposed to be published and the schools ranked based on the results????
I think they won’t, actually- the reason why is then people will be trying to establish residence in those areas with the ‘good’ schools, falsifying records and such so that their child’s education won’t be at the mercy of geography. I think it’s simply criminal that we ALL pay taxes to education our kids to the tune of- what, $22K/annum, and the results are this poor. There are a couple of angles to the problem- kids who don’t value free education, parents who don’t support their children in their achievement at school, parents who challenge teachers continually on behavioral issues (no, that couldn’t have been MY child, don’t you pick on MY child, etc.- you know what I mean) and many- though by no means all- teachers who are in it for the benefits and cushy job. When was the last time you heard of a teacher who got canned for poor performance? That’s right, you haven’t. Because, despite all the bleating that the BUT does about how tough their job is, the union has done its level best to cripple the Ministry of Education in doing their jobs. Standards and accountability? It’s nothing more than a great big joke. The only thing that’s important is that no one loses their jobs. I guess that’s more fair than risking a child’s future.
I think it’s time that Bermuda do like school districts in the U.S and name the schools that are meeting the goals and expectations of the curriculum.
Thank you Dame Jennifer for your honesty and what appears to be complete transparency. These results simply support what most Bermudians already know – the public education system is in crisis and we have robbed an entire generation of primarily black Bermudian’s the ability to succeed in the real world. But, the light at the end of the tunnel is the apparent commitment that Dame Jennifer seems to be showing. Good on her – fixing the public education system will reap huge rewards in the long run. Personnally, i think that all the public schools should mirror the St. Georges Prep success by each having private boards (and the ability to make their own decisions) being funded by Govt but held 100% accountable for their successes and or failures. More Private/public partnership involvement would be able to take place and that would help too – but their isn’t a whole heep of private money willing to be tied up in any Government project if the system is managed the way it has been for the last ten years. What a huge undertaking to fix – but it can be done!