June 13th, 2008
By Quincy Parker


Education

The prime minister attacked the PLP’s assertion that his government doesn’t have a spending plan.

He blasted the PLP for not building a single new school over the course of its five-year term, and then deciding to build eight all at once just before the election.

Mr. Ingraham reiterated a pledge made by Education Minister Carl Bethel during his budget address.

"The FNM government – since we came to office – has provided the College of The Bahamas with $1 million to give financial assistance to Bahamian students who they determined were in need, and they determined that 783 Bahamians needed financial assistance and they gave it out of our million dollars given to them," he said.

Mr. Ingraham reiterated a campaign promise.

"We promise that all those persons in the Southern Bahamas, from depressed communities, who qualify to enter the College of The Bahamas would be able to do so, and the government would pay," he pledged. "They’ll go there free."

"We promise that every Bahamian child who is able to obtain five BGCSE of grade "C" and above – inclusive of Maths and English – will enter the College of The Bahamas and we’ll pay for them to go."

Outlining some of the specific scholarships his government intends to give, Mr. Ingraham crowed that his government would this year spend the largest amount of money on scholarships ever spent by a Bahamian government – $30.5 million.

Mr. Ingraham also touted his government’s increase in the allocation to the College of The Bahamas, which he said was the largest single increase ever given to the college – the government increased the allocation to COB by 34 percent in 2007/2008 over the previous fiscal year, boosting the allocation to more than $7 million.

"In addition to that, we have honoured our commitment to the college in respect of the payment of $1 million annually for the library, a commitment that the PLP never did quite make – they were always in the $600,000-plus area. The deal was $1 million a year," he said. "So said, not done!"

Education
The prime minister attacked the PLP’s assertion that his government doesn’t have a spending plan.
He blasted the PLP for not building a single new school over the course of its five-year term, and then deciding to build eight all at once just before the election.
Mr. Ingraham reiterated a pledge made by Education Minister Carl Bethel during his budget address.
"The FNM government – since we came to office – has provided the College of The Bahamas with $1 million to give financial assistance to Bahamian students who they determined were in need, and they determined that 783 Bahamians needed financial assistance and they gave it out of our million dollars given to them," he said.
Mr. Ingraham reiterated a campaign promise.
"We promise that all those persons in the Southern Bahamas, from depressed communities, who qualify to enter the College of The Bahamas would be able to do so, and the government would pay," he pledged. "They’ll go there free."
"We promise that every Bahamian child who is able to obtain five BGCSE of grade "C" and above – inclusive of Maths and English – will enter the College of The Bahamas and we’ll pay for them to go."
Outlining some of the specific scholarships his government intends to give, Mr. Ingraham crowed that his government would this year spend the largest amount of money on scholarships ever spent by a Bahamian government – $30.5 million.
Mr. Ingraham also touted his government’s increase in the allocation to the College of The Bahamas, which he said was the largest single increase ever given to the college – the government increased the allocation to COB by 34 percent in 2007/2008 over the previous fiscal year, boosting the allocation to more than $7 million.
"In addition to that, we have honoured our commitment to the college in respect of the payment of $1 million annually for the library, a commitment that the PLP never did quite make – they were always in the $600,000-plus area. The deal was $1 million a year," he said. "So said, not done!"

Well unfortuantely, that's not alot of students. Only about 10% of those who take it can even get an A, the numbers for B's and C's are better, but this wont help most youth initially.

i think it is good incentive though, but sadly it ain gun much at first.

Well unfortuantely, that's not alot of students. Only about 10% of those who take it can even get an A, the numbers for B's and C's are better, but this wont help most youth initially.
i think it is good incentive though, but sadly it ain gun much at first.


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:

Well unfortuantely, that's not alot of students. Only about 10% of those who take it can even get an A, the numbers for B's and C's are better, but this wont help most youth initially.
i think it is good incentive though, but sadly it ain gun much at first.WHAT ??????

WHAT ??????


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!

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:

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.

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!I see !!!, I took GCE's and it was cool.... Never even mention them on any resume.... LOL.... But..

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!
Actually Sap it is! I will reiterate what I have said on previous occasions. The GCE examinations was aimed at the top 15% of the school's academic population. Those 15% would have achieved the various passing grades A-C at GCE so to actually get an A at GCE you would have been probably in the top 3% of your year nationally. The BGCSE grades A-C are equivalent to the GCE passing grades so again are designed for the top 15% of the population to achieve. If the examination is to keep it's international standing and equivalency there is no way that more than 5-10% of the student population should get an A. If they do, then it means that the exam is being "dumbed down" just to keep the general population happy.

Actually Sap it is! I will reiterate what I have said on previous occasions. The GCE examinations was aimed at the top 15% of the school's academic population. Those 15% would have achieved the various passing grades A-C at GCE so to actually get an A at GCE you would have been probably in the top 3% of your year nationally. The BGCSE grades A-C are equivalent to the GCE passing grades so again are designed for the top 15% of the population to achieve. If the examination is to keep it's international standing and equivalency there is no way that more than 5-10% of the student population should get an A. If they do, then it means that the exam is being "dumbed down" just to keep the general population happy.

That is what I understand it to be. That is why I think the criteria should be more inclusive. Not for the dummying down, but my lawd AA, the exam waaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy up here and the chirren dem waaaaaaaaayyyyyy down dere. How do we bridge the gap?

Actually Sap it is! I will reiterate what I have said on previous occasions. The GCE examinations was aimed at the top 15% of the school's academic population. Those 15% would have achieved the various passing grades A-C at GCE so to actually get an A at GCE you would have been probably in the top 3% of your year nationally. The BGCSE grades A-C are equivalent to the GCE passing grades so again are designed for the top 15% of the population to achieve. If the examination is to keep it's international standing and equivalency there is no way that more than 5-10% of the student population should get an A. If they do, then it means that the exam is being "dumbed down" just to keep the general population happy.


So we need to reserve the BGCSE and get a standardized national exam that every senior can take that measures the abilty to read, write and cipher at an 10-12th grade level?

School us Ann.

So we need to reserve the BGCSE and get a standardized national exam that every senior can take that measures the abilty to read, write and cipher at an 10-12th grade level?
School us Ann.
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

Here is da spin. Wat happens wen da exams dem mark on a curb. In udder words a “A” ain necessarily wat dey say it is.


Erry one no wat avg is rite? Well I hear under da ole GCE da avg grade was “C” and under da new BGCSE da avg grade is “D.” Iffen dey basically one and da same den I guh be bold ta sa da MOE and da PM ain understand da system. :taped2: So inquirin mind wan no iffen dey set the standards rite…


Na ta get betta results in da long run dem teachers dem need to analyze dem diagnostic tests in primary school dem and work to improve. Ain no way chirren dem should be leavin primary and reading far far far below grade level standards. Dey onliest be a nusiance wen dey move da junior and senior high cos dey carn cope.


Parents gat ta do dey part and hep out. 'Member chirren gat ta be able to read ta take all da tests dem including maths. How else dey gon follow instructions.

Well unfortuantely, that's not alot of students. Only about 10% of those who take it can even get an A, the numbers for B's and C's are better, but this wont help most youth initially.
i think it is good incentive though, but sadly it ain gun much at first.
Um..what is the entrance requirement for COB?

Um..what is the entrance requirement for COB?
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.

Well I am sorry for doing this but I have no other choice! I don't wanna hijack
the whole thread but I see A in this thread so:

Ann I haven't been felling so great these last couple days so I was wondering if you gat a elborate fruit salad recipie I can use for tomorrow for me and the fam? Please help.:angel: