It is my view that some times, we need to be involved in trumpet blowing as it were, and in giving credit where it is really due. It is suspected that by now many listeners have already forgotten the CXC results of 2003 and what those results meant for countless thousands of young people. But in this view point, I'd like to underscore the sterling performance of many young persons at the Bishops' High School who have achieved and are continuing to achieve despite overwhelming odds. The physical limitations in the Bishops' High School cry out for urgent attention of the controllers of Education Sector. Old Students’ Associations can do just so much. The school needs very urgent attention. Its laboratories need a friend in high places ... there is no Home Management Room for those offering Home Economics at CXC. Its plumbing is a very suspect. The flooding in the area causes floor boards on the ground floor to swell and rise. Every child, teacher and visitor wades through many inches of water to enter the school's premises when it rains. Its driveway and the spine of the building providing a walkway to the back stairs are all completely submerged. These children have to do without many of the amenities that their counterparts in other schools enjoy. It is apposite to note that children who attend Bishops' High School are drawn from the same cachment area as those who attend any of our other secondary schools. They are not a privileged group. But just listen to the results that these children were bale to achieve in CXC exam 2003, because of their personal commitment to excellence, the help and support from parents, old students' associations and other support groups.
Of a total of 679 entries for the CXC exam in June of this year 634 passed with grades 1 to 3 representing a total of 93.4%.
There were 100% passes in the following subjects:
Agricultural Science
Biology
Caribbean History
Food & Nutrition
French
Geography
Home Management
Integrated Science
Office Procedures
Principles of Accounts
Principles of Business
Social Studies
Technical Drawing
Then for English Language, there was a 98.8% pass, a 93.8% pass in English Literature and an 85.9% pass in Mathematics. Nor must we forget the children's performance at the CAPE examination (Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations), here there was a 100% pass in Caribbean Studies, 100% pass in Information Technology, 93.8% pass in Communication Studies, 95% pass in Sociology.
Given all the circumstances, this is exceptional performance. Thanks to the teacher, but more especially thanks to the children themselves for their interest in their own self-development and their dogged determination to succeed at all costs. Congratulations children.