what trick they are trying to pull.

are they trying to take advantage of the Bahamian people short term memories!!

the National grade point average last year was a D+ and NOT a D.

I remember them saying it as clear as yesterday.

now the FNM want to make it seem like it improved from a D to D+


NONSENSE!!!!!!!! IT WAS A D+ LAST YEAR AND NOW IT IS A D+ THIS YEAR.

NO IMPROVEMENT!!!

You are about to start some serious fireworks on here.

what trick they are trying to pull.
are they trying to take advantage of the Bahamian people short term memories!!
the National grade point average last year was a D+ and NOT a D.
I remember them saying it as clear as yesterday.
now the FNM want to make it seem like it improved from a D to D+
NONSENSE!!!!!!!! IT WAS A D+ LAST YEAR AND NOW IT IS A D+ THIS YEAR.
NO IMPROVEMENT!!!

Refuting Assessment & Evaluation info. then?

Btw, what would u say is the IDEAL average for a country?

what trick they are trying to pull.
are they trying to take advantage of the Bahamian people short term memories!!
the National grade point average last year was a D+ and NOT a D.
I remember them saying it as clear as yesterday.
now the FNM want to make it seem like it improved from a D to D+
NONSENSE!!!!!!!! IT WAS A D+ LAST YEAR AND NOW IT IS A D+ THIS YEAR.
NO IMPROVEMENT!!!
No Spirit. It was a D. Search it right here on BI and you'll see. All in all though, it is still a bunch of nonsense, as there were quite a number of students that weren't allowed to sit the exams (I know this for a fact), thus, this increased the average - by what, a mere point! It solves no problem, as we now have unqualified students leaving school with no exam papers. And heck, they weren't even given a chance to prove themselves - they were just passed through the school system!

No Spirit. It was a D. Search it right here on BI and you'll see. All in all though, it is still a bunch of nonsense, as there were quite a number of students that weren't allowed to sit the exams (I know this for a fact), thus, this increased the average - by what, a mere point! It solves no problem, as we now have unqualified students leaving school with no exam papers. And heck, they weren't even given a chance to prove themselves - they were just passed through the school system!

I said this long time!

Hence the folly of the whole debate. Why applaud School A for 100% "A" passes or average --- when they send up 5 students; while looking down at school B for a "D" average when they have 500 students sitting... ?

what trick they are trying to pull.
are they trying to take advantage of the Bahamian people short term memories!!
the National grade point average last year was a D+ and NOT a D.
I remember them saying it as clear as yesterday.
now the FNM want to make it seem like it improved from a D to D+
NONSENSE!!!!!!!! IT WAS A D+ LAST YEAR AND NOW IT IS A D+ THIS YEAR.
NO IMPROVEMENT!!!Will the real spirit please stand up..... the following is a letter that is featured on Fred's website today.... BOL.............

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


A National (BGCSE) Average of D+ is apparently acceptable

The National Grade (BGCSE) Average of D+, for the Bahamas General Certificate of Education, was released recently and the Minister of Education seemed rather pleased with this level and quality of scholastic achievement by our students. The Minister went as far as to align this academic “success” with the removal of the police from public school campuses. I wish to put the FNM government’s present position into political perspective.

It was not long ago when, at a rally, the leader of the FNM and the Honorable Member for North Abaco said that “education went from bad to worst” after Alfred Sears relinquished the ministerial portfolio of Attorney General to focus exclusively on the Ministry of Education. I note that the National Grade Average was a D+ at the time this charge was made. Donald Saunders, the FNM candidate for the Golden Gates Constituency in the 2007 General Election, wrote a letter to the editor of the Nassau Guardian and publicly charged that the PLP government “failed” the Bahamian students. I note again that the National Grade Average was a D+ at the time that letter was published. Editor, as a matter of public record the position of the FNM regarding education and the D+ average was framed and well documented prior to May 2nd 2007. Did I mention that the scholastic improvement from a D- to a D+ in 2006 corresponded with the introduction of the School Policing Program? The record shows that there is a direct and parallel relationship between these two national developments. I am not suggesting that the academic improvement back in 2006 was a direct result of the introduction of the School Policing Program, I am not that bold and presumptuous; I am simply stating a historical fact.

Editor, you could appreciate my extreme curiosity and cynicism at this somewhat precipitous shift in the rhetoric of the FNM. If the letter D is at the mid point of a seven letter range in a Bell curve, certainly the FNM knew this all along because they helped introduced the grading system. The political machinery of the FNM refused to acknowledge this when it did not suit their purpose.

Once again and suffice it to say, the FNM manages to come across as hypocritical, opportunistic, untrustworthy, and committed to the most politically expedient route to power. Those who aspire to lead should never be prepared to say and do anything for power.

If the emperor was naked in 2006 (as the FNM seemed to suggest), the emperor is surely naked in 2008. I urge the FNM government to cloth the emperor with urgency instead of using a slick public relations and propaganda campaign to convince the towns people (Bahamians) that emperor is fully regaled.

Yours etc.;

Elcott Coleby

However, let me personally offer to the hard-working teachers in all public school... next year let's go two points... and each year move the bar higher and higher.... small but significant... Come on all Bahamians... this is positive news.... regardless of how you try to spin it..... I wonder what would have been said if it had dropped.....

BOL..........

Spirit, you sure you are not thinking about 2006's results?

Refuting Assessment & Evaluation info. then?
Btw, what would u say is the IDEAL average for a country?
I want the same question answered. Based on statistical info I would say the average would always be no higher than a C regardless of the circumstances.
On another note, adding fuel to the fire, I have been saying all along that many private schools are selective in their external exam sittings. (I am guessing that public schools select as well.)
While attending St. Anne's some 20+ years ago, everyone had to sit external exams with Math and Language being compulsory and at least four other subjects to a maximum of eight (O' Levels). I don't know what the policies are now but I could remember several persons attending COB with me from QC saying that they were not allowed to take GCEs but took the CXC I believe. So from way back then QC was selecting who took GCEs.

August 15th, 2006
National Grade Average Still “D+”
By Candia Dames
The national grade average remains a D plus, a senior education official confirmed on Monday.

Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education Veronica Owens pointed out that this was unchanged from 2005.

Education officials are expected to soon release the official results of national examinations taken by ninth and twelfth graders at the end of the 2005-2006 school year.
http://www.jonesbahamas.com/?c=45&a=9701


Therefore, 2006 and 2005 had D+ results.

2007 I guess it fell to D and now its back up to D+

I want the same question answered. Based on statistical info I would say the average would always be no higher than a C regardless of the circumstances.
On another note, adding fuel to the fire, I have been saying all along that many private schools are selective in their external exam sittings. (I am guessing that public schools select as well.)
While attending St. Anne's some 20+ years ago, everyone had to sit external exams with Math and Language being compulsory and at least four other subjects to a maximum of eight (O' Levels). I don't know what the policies are now but I could remember several persons attending COB with me from QC saying that they were not allowed to take GCEs but took the CXC I believe. So from way back then QC was selecting who took GCEs.

And, unless we have ALL or at least many more students included... a true NATIONAL measurement will NOT BE! Private schools have more luxury than public with this exclusion practice--- yet, most have similar results ---

EXCLUDING students from national exams was certainly practiced more under the GCE system... it was British and we simply accepted without debate! And, an even smaller number of persons from that 'exclusive' group did well ...

what trick they are trying to pull.

are they trying to take advantage of the Bahamian people short term memories!!

the National grade point average last year was a D+ and NOT a D.

I remember them saying it as clear as yesterday.

now the FNM want to make it seem like it improved from a D to D+


NONSENSE!!!!!!!! IT WAS A D+ LAST YEAR AND NOW IT IS A D+ THIS YEAR.

NO IMPROVEMENT!!!
I don't know about last year, but it was a D+ in 2006 and 2005...There was a fight to get the results last year..The ministry tried to hide it becaused it had dropped..

Check the record!!

EXCLUDING students from national exams was certainly practiced more under the GCE system... it was British and we simply accepted without debate! And, an even smaller number of persons from that 'exclusive' group did well ...
I more than agree with you. Persons today act as if this education problem just started. I can recall in 1984 that the results were not that great for GCEs. It was not as if there was some overwhelming majority achieving 5 with C or above. I am just saying that this education problem goes way back ... however, it just was not discussed on this level 25 years ago.
Also those leaving school without the exams back then were better able to assimilate themselves into jobs, unlike today's graduates.

I don't know about last year, but it was a D+ in 2006 and 2005...


yep, see my above post.


There was a fight to get the results last year..The ministry tried to hide it becaused it had dropped..
Check the record!!
Haha, that gave me a chuckle.

"Crap its a D. Lets hide these results persons expect every year, maybe they wont notice"

Now fibbing the results I can understand.

Therefore, 2006 and 2005 had D+ results.

2007 I guess it fell to D and now its back up to D+
I thought that I would have been the only one expressing this view because people seem to have such short memories!!

And to hear the reporters at ZNS say that this has not happen in a long time....That sure shows where their loyalty lie!! Pure propaganda...

In fact the grade level was raised after the police were put in the schools and this goes copmpletely against Minister Bethel's view..

if its not A+ then it dont matter dred. :bouncy::bouncy: