Almost 200 Registrants Were Absent
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
September 03, 2010 (CUOPM)
The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is to review the current policy of paying the fees of students to fail to show up to write the regional examinations.
Minister of Education, Sen. the Hon. Nigel Carty said he was concerned that students and some parents seem not to appreciate the high cost that Government has to meet to pay the examinations fees.
He reported several instances of students registering for examinations and, either absenting themselves from writing the exams, or, having registered, refuse to complete SBAs and other course assignments.
“For the CAPE results at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC), there are 183 cases of absent or ungraded subjects entries. For the CSEC (CXC) 2010 results, there were 115 ungraded entries. That is, in 115 subject entries, students did not submit their SBAs and were therefore ungraded,” said Minister Carty.
He said that the statistics for the examinations also show that a total of 180 entries registered absent from the exams.
“Obviously, money from the SELF programme has been wasted, and this cannot continue indefinitely,” said the Ministry of Education.
He said the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social Development will shortly be reviewing the SELF Programme and will be making a recommendation to Cabinet concerning the payment of examination fees under SELF.
Under the SELF Programme managed by the Department of Social Development, primary, secondary and College students who meet a set criteria and means test receive uniforms, text books and exercise books free and have their CXC and CAPE examination fees paid for by the State.
“Our teachers in particular have argued that urgent reform is necessary to stop the abuse of textbooks and exam fees,” said Minister Carty.