Hon Penn wants clarity on lowering of EPE pass requirement
The Opposition Leader, speaking on the Monday, June 24, 2019, edition of ‘NDP Radio,’ expressed disbelief that the Ministry would even lower the exam pass requirements and promised to grill Deputy Premier and subject Minister for Education, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), at the next House of Assembly (HoA) Sitting.
Requirements lowered by 10% - Ms Garraway
In a statement Monday, June 24, 2019, acting ESHS Principal Vanessa Garraway—in announcing the 2019 top performers— told students gathered outside the ESHS building, “14 of our students did not pass the EPE Exams, since then the government has seen it fit to drop the pass mark to 50%,” she said.
The EPE pass percentage, lowered from 60% to 50% was made to facilitate the several students who failed and according to the ESHS acting Principal, “with that, we have 9 new passes,” Garraway revealed.
Hon Penn, in addressing the information, told his listening audience, “In terms of the pass mark, I myself learn about this on social media… speaking about the announcement that it was immediately done to [lower] from 60% to 50%. It’s just unfortunate that we continue to lower our standards in the territory.”
He further told the audience, “We have to continue to uplift our people and hold certain standards and I will be pressing in the House of Assembly, the Minister responsible for that, on that issue to understand what was done, how it was done, why it was done and people are really concerned about it,” he said.
Clarity Needed – Hon Penn
Meanwhile, one caller, in expressing concerns at the move, extended gratitude to former Minister for Education, Hon Myron V. Walwyn, “for what he has done,” even as the former legislator is being investigated for a $1.6M allegedly corrupt wall construction project around the ESHS.
The caller implored that a lacking Department of Culture, no public library in Road Town, tent schools and the current school shift systems that happened under the NDP, are ultimately the responsibility of the 3-month old Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) led, Virgin Islands Party regime.
“At the moment our present education system has been marginalised and compromised,” the male caller said while calling for an educational analysis and doubting that any Minister would dare lower the requirements.
Hon Penn in response said “I will ask the question in the People’s house, to get the information to the public,” as part of seeking clarity on what exactly has happened.
Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) reached out to Hon Wheatley for a comment regarding the issue, to which he promised to make an official statement today, June 25, 2019.
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16 Responses to “Hon Penn wants clarity on lowering of EPE pass requirement ”
Did the last government made this up as they went along?
If a child pass all their school leaving exams why are the children not allowed to graduate.
Where did this exit exam come from?
Marlon please stop asking questions, just to ask.
Did you know this exam produced several incorrect grade results over the years that had to be corrected?
Did you know some of the students who would not have been allowed to graduate because of the EPE results are now graduating with high honors resulting from their hard work in school?
Did you know other schools are getting credit for graduating our students because this exit exam and the faulty results prevented them from graduating in the BVI?
Did you know most of the students that were not successful with one subject in the EPE never repeated a form in high school?
Did you know that the EPE does not determine the children’s future ability.
Did you know that the EPE makes the children feel like failures when they have worked so hard in school and with community hours?
Instead of questioning this sensible decision, question the faulty system of the EPE.
Who know know!!!
differently.. so “wow” I hope u have gained clarity..