You only need to reserve the BGCSE if you want people to only get in the A-C bracket. the D-G grades are for the majority of the population. The trouble is we are so used to this "passing" thing and the fact that we want all our children to pass. Let's be real, what percentage of our student population should really be qualifying to attend college or university? Surely we would only expect our brightest and best to attend these institutions otherwise what real value will there be in having a college degree?
Personally I like the idea of standardised testing in the Senior High School. But it has to be very carefully administered so that there can be no falsifying of results or "cheating" to make schools or teachers "look" good. I would still like to see a National High School Leaving certificate that details exactly what each child can do
UK GCE Grade C = Bahamas GCE Grade A.

i honestly sat on a bus waiting on a plane in miami airport with a "star" track team of younger high school students, and when one of the older kid said "I passed with a D+" all the rest were astonished and said well since we can pass with that we don't need to try no harder (i would have put that in broken crappy typed english like some that write on this board normally do...but I can't.) and that's our future folks.


oh...and I hear that even though our national average is what, D+?, that the teachers still only ALLOW those they THINK can pass to take the test. they are cutting out COMPLETELY those who cannot or will not pass. add them in and our national average is an F on OUR OWN STANDARDS.

You must have 5 BJC's at C and above to apply and 5 BGCSE's at C or above to get in without doing any college prep classes.
A lot will depend on the demand for the course you want to do, popular courses set the bar higher. Those with lesser popularity or for which there is a high demand for that qualification in the country will sometimes lower the bar.
Thats the point I'm making. Earlier in this thread someone said the incentive offered by the government wont help many kids..the incentive is in line with COB's entrance requirements, its not some bar the government set itself. Moreover COB is autonomous, so the government has no say in what COB's entrance requirements must be.

Thats the point I'm making. Earlier in this thread someone said the incentive offered by the government wont help many kids..the incentive is in line with COB's entrance requirements, its not some bar the government set itself. Moreover COB is autonomous, so the government has no say in what COB's entrance requirements must be.BOL!

Since we wanted a national exam that tests what an examinee can do, instead of remember, why couldn't we keep both exams, ie, 'O' and 'A' levels, as well as the BGCSE? I heard that in Barbados you may do all if you want to. And that thing about free tuition for students with 5 Cs or better is not new.The Old PLP had the same policy when I applied to COB, and could not get in on the strength of my mediocre grades...

You must have 5 BJC's at C and above to apply and 5 BGCSE's at C or above to get in without doing any college prep classes.
A lot will depend on the demand for the course you want to do, popular courses set the bar higher. Those with lesser popularity or for which there is a high demand for that qualification in the country will sometimes lower the bar.
When I went to COB, students could get in with 1000 or higher on the SAT or Math and English with grade C or above. I did not have all of my grades for the BGCSEs I took in 12th grade, but I had my math and English BGCSEs, and I got in... Then again, I also had over 1000 on my SAT, so I'm not sure which one I got in with.

Sap,
It we could actually get education revamped to where it was possible for even 10% of our seniors to take advantage of the PM's generous pledge, I for one would shout for joy!:bouncy:

Ha! When I got back from college in 81 I looked into the possibility of taking credit courses at COB with the idea of keeping my hand in somewhat and possibly filling out some hours for a second major...

No can do... I was told I could take adult education certificate courses only. No taking regular courses for credit ma boy. Not for you... Never mind I was willing to pay tuition.

Anyone know if this has changed or why such a policy might have ever been in place?

all the best,

drew

Right now about 10% will benefit. I like I said before, that is great. What I pointed out was, that the numbers of students getting A-C grades in BGCSE is not that great.
Yes, the education system needs to be revamped, so that students can ACTUALLY REACH the standards set by this exam. Or they need to re-design this exam. Not every child can register to take the advance papers, which is where you get the A or B. So that automatically rules out access to the government bursary. If the criterion is going to an exam, then it needs to be more equal. It is not a level playing field.
I see its value as an incentive, but if you know by 10th grade you are not taking an advance paper, you know by default that you cant get the bursary.


duhhhhhhhh!!! hOW MANY CHILDREN YOU THINK IN ANY EDUCATION SYSTEM CAN MAKE ACADEMIC STANDARD. aCADEMICS EEN FOR ERRYONE!!

GET REAL!! DATS DA PROBLEMS WIT WE. WE ONLY TINK BOUT ACADEMICS. THE MONEY AND THE FUTURE IS IN SKILLSS /TECH NOT BOOK & PENCIL!!:sparky:

duhhhhhhhh!!! hOW MANY CHILDREN YOU THINK IN ANY EDUCATION SYSTEM CAN MAKE ACADEMIC STANDARD. aCADEMICS EEN FOR ERRYONE!!
GET REAL!! DATS DA PROBLEMS WIT WE. WE ONLY TINK BOUT ACADEMICS. THE MONEY AND THE FUTURE IS IN SKILLSS /TECH NOT BOOK & PENCIL!!:sparky:
You read my mind. This is what I have been saying. Not everyone learns the same way or at the same rate or has the same skills. To expect that all students in the Public school system will be suited for Academics and to sit an exam like BGCSE and do relatively well is unrealistic. There needs to be more alternative schools on both the secondary and tertiary levels.

Now on a COB note. I hope they have improved. I never sat a placement exam for COB as did many of my high school classmates. I had already been accepted to and received an academic scholarship to university in the US. After the second semester of my sophmore year at university, I wanted to come home for the summer and do a math class at COB so I wouldn't have to do second summer session. I applied at COB with my transcript & SAT results, well above the 1000 required for entrance to COB. They never responded. I went back early and did the second summer session at my school. When I returned home for Christams after the first semester of my Junior year, I received a letter form COB proudly announcing that I had been accepted for their college prep program and had test results for an exam that I never sat!

I think she means that most of the kids don't sit for the "A" paper. The odds for getting a C is dramatically reduced if you don't sit the A version.
Watsayu, ein like when me you and Sap did take da GCE's cuz!

Well for one thing...scrap the A paper nonsence and let everyone get a shot at an A...even if dat person jus cram the night before......

Well for one thing...scrap the A paper nonsence and let everyone get a shot at an A...even if dat person jus cram the night before......

While I agree, some schools do not allow this because it brings their averages down (and truin these skools wan have the best statistics). For instance with the English (at least so I was told een know if they lie ta me) If you take the core paper , which is pretty standard the highest you can get is a C iffen you past the hard part of this paper but if you take the extended part and fail you are not guaranteed your C anymore so be prepared for a D or E or F ... and this applies with Accounts and Spanish also(cud be others cuz i een take all the subjects)

However with the sciences and math if you do take the extended paper and fail and intially you passed the core you still get your C no matter what
So if they allowed eerone the opportunity to take the A papers I guess more pl likely to fail and school know the capability of their students whether they cram or not the night before.


This is jus what my teachers told me nah iffen they lied to me:realmad:

While I agree, some schools do not allow this because it brings their averages down (and truin these skools wan have the best statistics). For instance with the English (at least so I was told een know if they lie ta me) If you take the core paper , which is pretty standard the highest you can get is a C iffen you past the hard part of this paper but if you take the extended part and fail you are not guaranteed your C anymore so be prepared for a D or E or F ... and this applies with Accounts and Spanish also(cud be others cuz i een take all the subjects)
However with the sciences and math if you do take the extended paper and fail and intially you passed the core you still get your C no matter what
So if they allowed eerone the opportunity to take the A papers I guess more pl likely to fail and school know the capability of their students whether they cram or not the night before.
This is jus what my teachers told me nah iffen they lied to me:realmad:

Each and every subject has it's own 'rules'! Eg. Spanish has 4 papers, Most have 2, some have three: the whole thing is much more complex than known to the public!

Schools (government anyway...) are NOT free to PREVENT students from sitting all parts of the papers!! Once a student is signed up for a subject, all papers are part... MOE DOES NOT support screening students to tweek school results; yet, some schools do it... NOT ALL! So, comparing results based on percentage passes, etc. is like apples and oranges.... an 'A' avg. in Art is Andros.... is very likely 1 to 5 students as compared to a 'B' avg. at C. C. Sweeting in Nassau where u're likely to be talking 'bout 500 students. C. C. in the case has the better overall performance but the public only hears 'A' in Andros.... lots a variables folk.... same holds with public vs. private schools.. :hammer:

Each and every subject has it's own 'rules'! Eg. Spanish has 4 papers, Most have 2, some have three: the whole thing is much more complex than known to the public!Schools (government anyway...) are NOT free to PREVENT students from sitting all parts of the papers!! Once a student is signed up for a subject, all papers are part... MOE DOES NOT support screening students to tweek school results; yet, some schools do it... NOT ALL! So, comparing results based on percentage passes, etc. is like apples and oranges.... an 'A' avg. in Art is Andros.... is very likely 1 to 5 students as compared to a 'B' avg. at C. C. Sweeting in Nassau where u're likely to be talking 'bout 500 students. C. C. in the case has the better overall performance but the public only hears 'A' in Andros.... lots a variables folk.... same holds with public vs. private schools.. :hammer:

:hammer:

:hammer:
I was ga ask you what school you been to. Cause at SAC for math at least, unless you in upper level math, you can't sit the A paper. So if you in lower level, the highest you could hope ta get is C.

I was ga ask you what school you been to. Cause at SAC for math at least, unless you in upper level math, you can't sit the A paper. So if you in lower level, the highest you could hope ta get is C.

Yea same at my school also the 2 top set gets to take the A paper