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Current grading standards to be raised: Hon. Walwyn

New initiatives shcheduled to help VI system move forward
August 27th, 2012 | Tags: Hon.Myron Walwyn CXC School Leaving Exams
Walwyn informed teachers of the new changes to be implemented in the upcoming school year. Photo: Javon liburd/VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- With just a week left before schools re-open, Minister for Education and Culture, Hon. Myron Walwyn met with teachers of the Virgin Islands and briefed them on some of the changes and additions that will be initiated in the upcoming school year.

The Minister along with Teachers and Principals of the Virgin Islands, met today, August 27, 2012 at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium. 

Focusing on the theme ‘Creating a Culture of Excellence’, one of the major changes the Minister announced is that the current grading standards that exist in the territory’s schools will be raised. 

Briefly, Hon. Walwyn stated “we are finding that our students are having difficulties adjusting to the academic standards in higher education and to better prepare them, our lucrative standards will require students to attain a 4.5 grade point average on a scale of 9 for passing grades.” 

He added that the percentage for each letter grade will be increased by five percent. For instance, he said that in order for a student to receive an A+, they must now score between 90-100% instead of 85-100%. 

The Minister further informed the teachers that the same grading scheme and structure of assessments for graduation will be adopted in all schools. “The aim of the Ministry is to ensure that each child is given equal opportunities to succeed.” He said that by doing this, the system will be more accountable and all students will be given greater opportunities for success. 

Hon. Walwyn also announced that the School Leaving Exams will no longer account for 15 percent of the students overall grade for graduations. He added that they will now carry more weight to ensure that the students are actively engaged and guarantee that they are prepared for regional exams, where in 2013/2014 he said all students leaving high school would be required to sit CXC exams. 

“The education system must be the foundation on which the territory develops.” 

Continuing on the topic of the changes and new initiatives to be introduced, Hon. Walwyn also added that for the upcoming school year, the recently chosen territorial song will be sung in the schools every morning, in general assemblies and home rooms; flag poles are also to be erected at all the schools. 

“We cannot afford to just allow students to just pass through our education system.  Their education must be in tune with the direction of the country, in a complex and competitive world, and help them to identify their role in this development.” 

He encouraged the teachers to find ways to make learning fun and to boost the creativity of the students “which will be needed to solve the challenges faced in the Virgin Islands now and in the future.” 

He told them that their aim must be to “provide a high quality of education in order for citizens to reach their highest potential and provide the necessary resources to move the country forward.” 

The Minister for Education said that his Ministry will be aggressively seeking to move the system forward and improve it, "additional training will be needed for our teachers, training that will be provided through various partnerships… We are working on plans to have a principal exchange to improve the management of the schools in the VI,”…as well as “more academic competitions to be introduced between public and primary schools.” 

He stated that these competitions will allow students to match up against their peers, improve their study habits and provide a platform for students who excel in various subjects. 

He expressed his confidence in each one of the educators as they continued to move the VI forward.

39 Responses to “Current grading standards to be raised: Hon. Walwyn”

  • lynda (27/08/2012, 15:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    wait wait. shouldn't the students be required to sing our national anthemn as well "God Save Our Gracious Queen". I wrote to education department many many years ago stating that this is what should be happening. Its a shame that many of us do not know the words to this song. This is our first song of pride, whether one agrees with it out not, we are under the leadership of the Sovereign Queen! Something to think about Minister.
  • Hmmmm (27/08/2012, 15:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Guess I am the first to read this, no fire works and nasty comments yet. I am all for any thing that initiates and foster culture and national pride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • apple pie (27/08/2012, 15:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I must say Myron is trying his best but he need to change his ways of a culture of disrespect for the people’s choices when they voted in 4 VIP members.
  • high time (27/08/2012, 15:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    how about making the teachers teach hard and rising standards for techers????
    • Q (27/08/2012, 18:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      He definitely need to raise the standards for teachers.
    • HT2 (28/08/2012, 15:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      that teacher in Althea Scatliffe keeping have the worse primary 5 results year after year and she still have job. We all know what that is, "yeh mon"
    • hmm (28/08/2012, 15:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Maybe if teachers are paid more, classrooms were larger or the number of students they want to put in your class and resources are provided then you people can talk. Maybe some parents need to train their children better so that when teachers are trying to teach they won't have to keep disturbing the class to deal with a particular child.
      • @hmm (28/08/2012, 18:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Maybe if the class is more interesting and engaging then you can get that child who disturbs the class to participate in the class activities. Teachers need to reach the children at the level they are at. Maybe you need to find out what type of activities or things the children find inspiring and interesting and incorporate it into the class lesson or find activities where the children can act out a particular concept or theme that will help express their views about a particular theme or concept or even stimulate thinking outside the box.
        • To hmm (28/08/2012, 19:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          You are absolutely correct. Maybe you should join the teaching profession since you believe that once you step into a classroom it goes according to the 'textbook' script.
        • JohnLeonard (29/08/2012, 12:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          I hope that @hmm doesn't have any children in school, and if you do I advise that you take them out of the system and enroll them in the Montisori school. You expect a single classroom teacher, having an oversized class, to be able to deal with each child on an individual basis? Institutional slavery ended a long time ago, my friend. Parents need to be proactive in their children's education. Many parents only show concern when their child can't pass the primary 5, or fail to graduate from high school. If parents do their part it would enable the teachers to be 10 times more successful in preparing the students.
          • @JohnLeonard (30/08/2012, 07:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
            The teacher should cater to the various different learning styles and techniques of children when preparing to teach in the classroom to ensure the concpets get accross to each child in the classroom. Are you saying that teachers in the school system cannot make class more interesting, engaging, and stimulate thinking outside the box?
  • love child (27/08/2012, 15:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Every time I see this dude all I can say is the education system missed Fahie so much...voters do not make that mistake again!
    • BREAKING NEWS (27/08/2012, 16:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Mistake? Thousands of people can't make a mistake! Fahie did some good but most of it was foolishness!!
      • corn dog (27/08/2012, 19:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Remember thousands of people voted for Irene, Keith and Vernon also...now where are they four years later…be careful Myron you are loosing a lot of respect and points from the people.
        • BREAKING NEWS (28/08/2012, 09:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          Those so called thousands ain't help them win a seat! Watch how a REAL Gov't works!
          • Cause and Effect (28/08/2012, 11:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
            To Breaking News
            Day by Day you are sounding so d***** stupid. I have to wonder if you leave all that you learnt at the school door and only walked away with the paper in your hand. You are making your family hang their head in shame. Good grief man.
          • ta ta (28/08/2012, 14:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
            myron slow down brother man even your own team memebrs are sick of you...it's a team not a one man show.
      • To breaking news (27/08/2012, 20:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        All I can say about what you sad about most of what Fahie did was foolishness is...SSStttrrrruuuupppsss! Yyyaaawwwwnnn! Get a life. Fahie did well for education & it will always be remembered whether you or Myron like it or not! By the way hello Minister...We know that it is you as breaking news.
      • Hello Breaking News (27/08/2012, 20:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        At least Fahie did better than the last NDP Minister before him,LLOYD Balck. Myron can never erase the good work of Fahie so he needs to stop trying & just do his work.
        • BREAKING NEWS (28/08/2012, 09:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

          I agree Fahie was better than Lloyd but the last 4 years Fahie did a lot of pi$$ that you all don't know about!

          Watch how Myron will take the Education System to ANOTHER LEVEL!!

      • wow (27/08/2012, 22:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

        hundreds of our children maybe thousands can't read and write or comprehend properly because he wanted a half cup full and not a whole cup. We need 8 glasses of water per day and Fahie only want us to dring 4. MYRON WALWYN ALL The way

        • All the way (28/08/2012, 00:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

          To wow...I agree with you 100%. ALLLLLLLL the way! ALLLLLLL the way OUT next election! He too arrogant, vendictive, evil minded and thinks he alone gets to decide who should live & who should die in the BVI. So yes wow...All the way with him through the political doors so he can get back to watching in from outside. WOW!

  • @@@@@ (27/08/2012, 16:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    not impress yet Standards still to low Myron
  • bad dad (27/08/2012, 16:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    he again....eyes rolling
    • me too (27/08/2012, 17:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      This Minister is not even born in the BVI and he has turn out to be the worse Government Minister ever. He has no respect for the Opposition and wants to closed down the media. The people of the BVI cannot wait until the next elections.
      • a$$ hole (27/08/2012, 19:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        the dam man born right here.do you born here
      • back off (27/08/2012, 23:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        come on man lay off VINO done say the man born here and they saw his birth certificate, if VINO say its so, it's so so back off the poor child!
  • BREAKING NEWS (27/08/2012, 16:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We still want to see them go higher! Too much uneducated kids leaving High School!
  • These Jokers (27/08/2012, 16:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    First of all the minister needs to locate the weak students from the strong students for instance those that suffer with Dyslexia, Attention disorder and Children whose mother was a drug addicts and/ or abused other forme of substance, that may cause mental disorder for that child.
    These are some of the major factors that Teachers, must first know how to pin point and know how to deal with hands on.
    I speak from my own personal experience, I am 30+yrs, just last year I realized that suffered from dyslexia, I never know, about such literacy illness, until I joined the workforce some 10yrs ago and my boss asked, if I am dyslexia and I had no clue what she was talking abour or what it was.
    I am now receiving treatment at University level, after suffering from the difficulties of reading, writing and expressing myself , mis-spelling my words and mixing up my words that are close in meaning.
    None of my teachers throughout my 13years of school (yes I repeated primary school due to this slient illness), notice that I was dyslexia.
    No even my parents knew too.
    • Disorder (28/08/2012, 10:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      You are not dyslexia, my dear. The disorder you have is called dyslexia. If you want to label yourself, then you are dyslexic.
  • who the boss (27/08/2012, 17:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    this man has a chip on his shoulders he better remeber we the people are his boss!!
  • ooooo (27/08/2012, 17:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    everthing screwed up now
  • hmmmm (27/08/2012, 21:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    yep myron seem to forget is in politics he is the ppl of the bvi gave him the job where he is at now and he acts like ppl have to bow to him when he enters a place hands down fahie had the education thing down pack at least he wins the race running against myron take note ppl
  • qc (27/08/2012, 23:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    hope this does not mean alot of children will be failing....
  • For the Children (28/08/2012, 00:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am surprised at the negativity. Wait, this is the BVI where nothing that is done right is appreciated and people have nothing better to do than complain!

    These are important standards that the Minister is recommending. Everyone is unhappy at the number of unemployed youth and the professional jobs going to expatriates. Well, this is a step in the right direction. Academics must become of high importance in the future generations. Students never made to challenge and learn and place high importance on their educations will never succeed in universities and the degrees and necessary to hold professional qualifications will be unattainable. We have to focus on the positive and provide the children with the necessary tools and teachings to give them a chance to succeed. Every time someone wastes their breathe spewing negativity over which party is better and who did what and hating on people who are making an effort to help is just harming the progress of the country. It doesn't matter which party leads the government. The majority government will change back and forth for as long as elections occur. What matters is that we always continue to progress and grow as a country. The rest of the world is....we must also; because like kit or not it is a global workforce that our children are competing against. They must be prepared to compete for jobs here in the BVI and in other countries. In today's world you have to have the skills to be the best against graduates from international universities. Do not think placing hiring mandates on companies with international standards will give the children the one-up to be hired. These companies must hire qualified persons. Let's teach our children to succeed through bachelor, master and PhD programs. It all starts with the basics and the minister is trying to see that they have the solid foundation to succeed. So please, look on the positives and add constructive criticism where due; but enough with the political insults.
    • JohnLeonard (29/08/2012, 13:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I can't agree with you more. Most of these bloggers use this forum as their soapbox to pitch their political viewpoints, and miss the real issues. People used to get work because they "born here". That resulted in most of the qualified top employee being expatriates. Starting with the late H. L. Stiutt, a move was made to educate locals to take over the top jobs. The BVI has come a long way, but it needs to go to the next level; that BVIslanders be as qualified as nayone elase in the world in the various disciplines. It has to start at least at kindergarten. What the minister is doing is ensuring that if the BVI students are on par with the rest of the world by the end of high school, then they would be able to attain the Bs, Ms and PhD degrees alongside anyone else in the world. Having achieved that, none of these companies operating in the BVI can't say that they have to bring in a worker because nobody locally can fill the job. All the previous ministers of education have contributed to this vision, and Mr. Walwyn is just adding his 2 cents.
  • BREAKING NEWS (28/08/2012, 09:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good - Lloyd Black
    Great - Andrew Fahie
    Greatest - Myron Walwyn
  • ratbat (30/08/2012, 09:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    He is doing a good job, long time BVI should have been doing cxc !


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