Comments on: Video: Public Schools Exam, Graduation Results

By: PLP On Public School Education Exam Results - Bernews.com : Bernews.com

PLP On Public School Education Exam Results - Bernews.com : Bernews.com — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 17:38:05 +0000

[...] in the PLP, note the grades published by the Ministry of Education in last week’s press statement. We, especially, commend those students achieving at the highest standards and say congratulations [...]

By: Sickofantz

Sickofantz — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 21:17:38 +0000

How can International Business be expected to employ Bermudians when only 17.5% (of those entered for the exam) pass it? Basic mathematic ability is a prerequisite in being employed in International Business.

By: Bermewjan

Bermewjan — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 19:51:11 +0000

Sadly, I completely agree. What an awful state of affairs we have gotten ourselves into!

By: Sickofantz

Sickofantz — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 16:38:50 +0000

The trouble is Rhonda that their just aren’t the trade jobs anymore. (Believe me my father is a farmer and the technology in driving a tractor or working in agriculture these days is extraordinary). I disagree with giving up on kids at 11. Families must get behind their kids and realise that the most precious thing a child can have is an education.

By: compelled to write

compelled to write — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 16:26:24 +0000

The problem here is not simply the schools or the teachers or the parents… it goes much deeper. This is a cultural problem that we have in Bermuda. Any culture is defined by the prevalent set of values and behaviours in any group… Our collective culture does not Value education, or smart people, it values personality or tribe (political persuasion or religious persuasion) over the strength of ideas. Until this changes, and the persons with the most to gain from a good education realise it (value it) this will continue.

By: Homo Sapien

Homo Sapien — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 15:14:31 +0000

Here are the Bermuda state school 2014 figures compared with the published UK national figures for 2014(http://www.bstubbs.co.uk/gcse.htm)

UK Bermuda

English A-C 61% 45%
Maths A-C 62% 17.5%
Science A-C 90% 17%

By: Apples and Oranges- Same Tree

Apples and Oranges- Same Tree — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 13:58:34 +0000

Good day……..

Apples……Public Schools: 18 year olds- 3 GCSE- You are a star!!

Oranges….Private Schools: 16 year olds- <5 GSCE-Sorry see you later!!

Tree- Bermuda

Shame on those Private Schools!! where is your Bermudian Spirit!!

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 12:55:35 +0000

I have not idea why every public school students must take an exam knowing they are not equipped to pass.

I have always been in favor of the 11 plus exam, or something similar. And a separations of trade & scholastic systems of learning. This all levels of learning in one class has been tried, and proven to be a failure, what is the delay in changing.

By: get serious

get serious — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 10:09:09 +0000

The results are reflective of the quality of instruction. The tired solution of restructuring doesn’t address this. Get rid of beauracracy and consolidate schools. Each school have a powerful board of 3 persond who can fire and hire. Clearly Dr Lou Matthews has shown no talent in improving math or accountabilty. And he’s had 6 years to do that. All talk he is. Joker.

By: Your joking

Your joking — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 07:28:44 +0000

Yes you are correct….except this has been going on for generation ….so way more than 2000

By: Just Saying?!!

Just Saying?!! — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 03:46:16 +0000

Hello OBA,

Please privatize the high school system.

Pay the existing private schools to teach the students and close those two public high schools.
With growing student enrollment in the private school, have the government teachers in the high schools apply to for work at the Private Schools.

Make Berkely a Trade School(for those who are not into academics) and give Cedarbridge to the Police so they can stop paying rent everywhere!!

By: Varied

Varied — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 00:11:48 +0000

I was a little confused by that as well – unless the 6.0 scale only related to middle schools.

The initial graduation numbers looked promising, but there seems to be still some vagueness in the numbers.

By: Ringmaster

Ringmaster — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 23:09:11 +0000

With respect, your figure of 65,000 is way too high. Take off those below 16 years old, those above 20, expats, retired and that leaves around 2,000? Appalling numbers. Bermuda should be amongst the top 5 or 10 in the world for education.

By: Double Standards

Double Standards — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 23:02:24 +0000

Only 30% or 90 out of 300 students received an A-C grade. Well at least that’s somewhat of an improvement on the 28% reported for the last 2 years:(

By: Double Standards

Double Standards — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 22:58:45 +0000

What’s going on with our young males in the public school system? What happens to the ones that didn’t pass? Are they simply allowed to graduate without acquiring a basic education? If that’s the truth that will benefit no one in our society!

We have all got to do better!

By: PEACE in the NEIGHBORHOOD

PEACE in the NEIGHBORHOOD — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 22:37:13 +0000

SIR KEN ROBINSON – an Education reform giant !
• http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity?language=en (The most watched TED talk of all time)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX78iKhInsc
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLbXrNGVXfE (this is brilliant as the teacher for Paul McCartney & George Harrison did not see their talent)

The most watched TED TALKS
http://blog.ted.com/2011/06/27/the-20-most-watched-tedtalks-so-far/
When I asked the former Minister of Education of Bermuda about TED TALKS ….he said “WHAT’S TED” ?
I was quite frankly astounded….. But WHY I am I not surprised……

GEOFFREY CANADA
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY2l2xfDBcE

PLUS look at our blog !
http://ridethewavefoundation.blogspot.ca/

Seems to me when I try to “Enlighten” the powers that be in Education in Bermuda…..they show no interest in change 
Bureaucracy is the SLOTH to progress….
Google FINLAND – and the way they revolutionized education in that country !!
But here is a link !
http://www.nea.org/home/40991.htm

By: J

Thu, 30 Oct 2014 22:19:52 +0000

I blame the parents…

By: Your joking

Your joking — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 21:20:42 +0000

So 55.3% failed English….82.5% failed Math….since A-C is considered pass….and that doesn’t include the kids that didn’t take the exam……and we wonder why young adults are not getting hired????? Bermuda’s biggest export should be educated young adults looking for world experience to bring home. UBP PLP OBA have all failed or are failing….and all we hear time and again is the Education system is being restructured ….It is simple…teach English and Mathematics until every kid is fluent in both and they will be better at succeeding in life. (Threaten Summer holiday take away if need be ..And knock on the door of families who’s kids are stuggling)…..You can’t possible tell me we can’t educate a population of 65,000.

By: Meeee

Meeee — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 20:29:15 +0000

That balance of 77 male graduates to 150 female graduates is scary. It indicates a past and present problem. It portends troubles to come.

By: Bermewjan

Bermewjan — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 20:21:33 +0000

I thought the GPA quoted was out of 4.0, like US Universities. Turns out, it is out of 6.0… (look at the rest of the slides) and students with a 2.0 are considered to be passing!?! We are not helping our students by letting them believe that this is ok! It’s not! The workplace isn’t going to say it’s okay to under achieve, we’ll just lower the bar! Shame on you, whoever came up with this ridiculous measure for passing! This is just nuts! No wonder my fellow Bermudians can’t figure out why they are not able to break into the higher level roles in our economy! We are effectively telling them it is okay not to strive. Do what you want and we will just lower the bar and tell you and your family and friends you have passed anyway!! Then they can’t get a decent job! No wonder they are angry! We are telling them that they aren’t good enough after years of us telling them they are doing just fine in our under measuring method of educational assessments. Ludicrous!

By: Bermewjan

Bermewjan — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 19:51:40 +0000

When I was at school “passing” was considered to be a grade C or above. Using that measure for review, the graph on slide 5 tells me that less than 50% passed in English, less than 20% passed in Math (!?!), and even less than that passed in Science! Given that marking seems to be more lenient these days, I am left with my jaw on the floor that our young people are leaving school with such a horrendously poor education. This is just terrible!!!