Some primary schools in and around Port-of-Spain have been underperforming academically when compared to schools in other districts. School Supervisor 1 in the Ministry of Education said so during an interview at yesterday's 20th annual Festival of Carols.
The event, held in association with the Ministry of Education, took place at the Lions Club of Port-of-Spain Central, Fitzblackman Drive, Woodbrook, and brought together ten primary schools in Port-of-Spain and environs. Prescod said the academic statistics for primary schools in the capital city were worrying. "Today's event is welcomed because it offers kids an opportunity to participate in something positive," he said. "Primary schools in Port-of-Spain have not been doing well academically. Taking part in sport and culture can also allow children to find their careers in activities like these," he added. Prescod said while the picture looked grim as it related to the academic performance of primary school students in Port-of-Spain, he remained optimistic that things would turn around as the Education Ministry had been working assiduously to address the problem.
Citing the recently installed Performance Enhancement project (PET), Prescod said he hoped to see better results coming from underperforming schools for next year's Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA). He said various arms of the ministry, including the student support services division, curriculum division, centre of excellence for teacher training, monitoring unit and school supervision were collaborating to make the initiative a success. He noted that of the 132 primary schools currently benefiting from PET, 44 were from the Port-of-Spain district. Prescod said so far, the project had been going "fairly well." "This is the first time we are doing something like this and we expect to see some progress next year for the SEA and definitely in the next two to three years."
Earlier, participating schools shared the Christmas joy as they sang some of the more popular Christmas carols and parang, including Mary Had a Little Lamb, O Come O Come Emmanuel and The Little Drummer Boy. Scores of parents and guardians turned up for the event to witness their children shine on stage.
?Participating schools
Belmont Girls' RC Primary
Eastern Boys' Government Primary
Gaines Normal A.M.E
Nelson Street Girls' Primary
Rosary Boys' RC School
Sacred Heart Boys' RC Primary
St. Agnes AC Primary
St. Crispin's AC Primary
St Hilda's Gov't Primary
St Rose's Girls' RC Primary