Alphia Earnest
A total of 70 schools wrote this year’s Common Entrance Examination,30 of which attained a mean above the national mean of 60.90 percent.
Topping the list was the Forestiere Methodist Combined where 12 students sat the examination and the school scored 74 per cent overall.
Principal Alphia Earnest told St Lucia News Online (SNO) yesterday (July 8) that she is satisfied with the results and noted that the success came about with hard work and dedication.
Earnest said this is the first time that the school topped the island, but noted that it was ranked number two a few years ago.
“Our teachers work hard, we have small classes and we are able to work with children on an individual basis, also Forestiere have nice children, who you are willing to work with. I must give teachers credit to the teachers for being very dedicated,” Earnest said.
The principal said the school tries its best to look at each student’s overall development: “We try to do a bit of music, physical education… We try to incorporate the arts with the academics so that we can develop the children. So I think that is one of things that help the children here.”
Earnest said the females have out-performed the male students at this year’s examination, which is a cause for concern.
“I think has a lot to do with attitudes. You see the girls focusing more than the boys and you wonder why the girls seems to be striving for success,” she said.
Earnest believes that consideration must be given to address the issue of boys underachieving, not only for her school, but schools island-wide.
Meanwhile, Earnest said the schools have been getting support from both government and the private sector, but noted that there is more that needs to be done to improve the school’s facilities.
According to her, the play field is one area in which they hope to work on.
“I was concerned because of the fact that Forestiere is so far from the Mindoo Phillip Park. We find that our children were not as active as we would like them to be in physical education. Finally, come next school term, we would get a play field,” she said, adding that this will allow all of the students the opportunity to take part in recreation activities.
The principal is also looking to have the toilets repaired.
Earnest said she and her staff will continue working hard to ensure that the students receive the best quality of education. She commended all of her teachers, including Joseph Valcin, who has been teaching grade six students for the past three decades.
Other schools that scored at or above the national mean includes: Camille Henry Memorial with 73.9 per cent, Dame Pearlette Louisy Primary with 73.6 per cent, Vigie Primary with 72.7 per cent, Reunion Primary with 72.2 per cent, Ti Rocher Combined (Castries) with 69.1 per cent and Roblot Combined, among others.