Controversy looms over selection of schools’ top students
Traditionally, the top student at the Primary Five examination is usually used to select the Valedictorian and Salutatorian at respective schools. However, there are some schools that have been setting their own guidelines for the selection of their top students. This news site has been unable to confirm whether those guidelines are sanctioned by the Ministry of Education.
Of the concerns for the 2012 graduation that were brought to this news site’s attention, they include the Primary Five Top Student of the Enis Adams Primary School, Ms. Leigha Burke. Second in the same examination was Jaida Harrigan and Keanu Baker-Samuels in third. However, based on the selection process adopted by her school, Ms. Burke ended up being the third place student – a revelation that was only officially known to the student and her parents two days before the graduation and she had already had her speech written as the Valedictorian. Grades from Class 4 and Class 5 were used to determine the top student and according to her parent, she had a more consist 1st or 2nd place even from Class 3.
Another concern was at the Ebenezer Thomas Primary School, where the top student of that institution in the Primary Five examination was Smeralda Avril, with Aidan George in second and Abdiel Mateo in third. However, based on the selection criteria for that school, Mr. George did not qualify to be the Salutatorian because he did not attend the same school from Class 1. He started in Class 2 but attended Class 1 at the Jost Van Dyke Primary before being transferred.
Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online, Lelia Burke, mother of Leigha said parents were informed at the end of Class 4, that their children’s grades from Class 4 and Class 5 would have been used to determine the top students for the school, a decision she was not concerned about since her daughter has always placed either 1st or 2nd to Jaida Harrigan as they were the two top students. She did admit that once her daughter placed third during the time. Given her daughter’s record, Mrs. Burke said following the results of the Primary Five examination, she had no suspicion that her daughter would not have made the cut for the Valedictorian or even if she didn’t, at least the Salutatorian.
Based on the selection criteria for the school, the Valedictorian was the second place student at the Primary Five examination Jaida, who like Ms. Burke had a Grade 1, while the Salutatorian went to a Mateo Parsons, a student who had obtained a Grade 2 certificate at the Primary Five examination. In addition, the name of the Salutatorian was only revealed on the day of the graduation, according to the mother, who said she found it to be very suspicious.
“It seems some dishonesty was happening based on the seemingly secrecy of this,” said the mother.
Mrs. Burke said her daughter was initially informed by the Class teacher that she was the Valedictorian. However, days before the graduation, the parent said they overheard from other students that Leigha was not the Valedictorian and it was then Mrs. Burke said she approached the Principal who informed her that her daughter was Number 3 in the class.
“It was hard for her (Leigha) and very emotional,” the mother recalled.
Standard criteria for all schools
In light of the situation, the parent firmly supports the implementation of a standardised process for the selection of the Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the schools so as to avoid such situations where doubts and suspicion come into question.
“It needs to stop, the Education Department needs to set the criteria and apply it to all schools and not leave it up to the Principal and teachers at their whim and fancy”.
She also believes that such criteria as applied by different schools can end up being detrimental to the schools’ standards. “Your salutatorian can fail the Primary Five examination,” she charged noting that based on the school’s criteria, the Primary Five exams did not seem to play a critical role in their selection process.
“It is very unlikely for a child who is your top student all the time to drop so far. It makes me wonder if the grades that I saw on my daughter’s report are genuine.”
While it has already gone, Mrs. Burke said she would not like for such a selection process to affect any other student as it is highly unfair. “I would not want another child to go through what my daughter went through.” The mother said though the Class Teacher did apologise to her and her daughter for telling her she was the Valedictorian.
Meanwhile, another parent who wished to remain anonymous, also supports that the education department needs to set a criteria that is consistent in all schools to avoid such occurrences.
“No school should have a criterion in place that will have an emotional or psychological effect on students,” the parent said.
Another parent who was visibly upset when informed of the decisions taken and the criteria set by the schools, firmly stated, “The department needs to play a more active role in what goes on in the schools and be more proactive rather than reactive.”
Several efforts were made to seek clarity from the Ministry of Education on the procedure for selection of top students and based on the concerns raised by parents, whether there were plans to look into the concerns and have the situation addressed. However, no calls were returned up to publication time from the Acting Permanent Secretary Dr. Marcia Potter or the acting Chief Education Officer Mrs. Jillian Douglas-Phillip.
Efforts were also made to solicit comments from the Principal of the Enis Adams Primary School and the Ebenezer Thomas Primary School which were also futile up to publication time.
According to one parent, and while this news site could not confirm her report, she allegedly said when she contacted the Ministry of Education, she was informed that the Department does not get involved in school matters of such.Another parent said she was told to write a letter to the department to express her concerns.
However, a stalwart educator told this news site when clarity was sought that she has heard of schools having their own criteria set before, but it was discussed recently at meetings among top educators of each school that they should all have a standardized process so that it “doesn’t bring anyone into question”.
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