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No place for students to write examinations?

-Permanent Secretary says Ministry needed $18,000 to rent private facility
Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Marcia Potter, told the Committee members, that at the time, the government agency was still struggling to find a space to accommodate the students to be able to sit the exams. Photo: VINO/File
The damning state of affairs facing Virgin Islands (VI) students was impressed on members of the House of Assembly’s, Standing Finance Committee, when it met in April last to examine the Ministry’s 2018 budget allocations. Photo: VINO/File
The damning state of affairs facing Virgin Islands (VI) students was impressed on members of the House of Assembly’s, Standing Finance Committee, when it met in April last to examine the Ministry’s 2018 budget allocations. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - The Ministry of Education and Culture had found itself in a conundrum earlier this year finding accommodation for the students in the Territory, to sit overseas examinations.

The damning state of affairs that faced Virgin Islands (VI) students was impressed on members of the House of Assembly’s, Standing Finance Committee, when it met in April last to examine the Ministry’s 2018 budget allocations.

The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Marcia Potter, told the Committee members, that at the time, the government agency was still struggling to find a space to accommodate the students to be able to sit the exams, due in June.

The Ministry had identified a couple of spaces that would cost and the lowest cost, $18,000, she said.

 The Committee heard that the Sports Complex in Road Town, was not a viable option to house the students to sit the examinations since, “the Ministry is trying to use the facility to house the Junior Students to help keep them off the street and to ensure that they do not get into any more trouble.”

The Clarence Thomas Ltd. (CTL) was said pose to logistical problems and as such would not be a viable option, “because school continues and exams are at different times of the day.”

 Dr Potter said there was a need to accommodate approximately 170 students.

Speaking to the urgency of the matter at the time, Education and Culture Minister, Honourable, Myron V. Walwyn (AL), stated that what makes it more complicated is because “they are moving to Electronic Testing (E-Testing)…it is not paper testing any more with CXC (Caribbean Examinations Council), so the facility has to be wired with internet.”

He said too, there would have to be an assessment completed by CXC in order to ensure that the Territory is in a state of readiness for it, and “if they are not in a state of readiness, it compromises the students doing the exam.”  

15 Responses to “No place for students to write examinations? ”

  • ccc (20/06/2018, 10:51) Like (25) Dislike (3) Reply
    The wall money would have come in handy
    • concern (20/06/2018, 11:32) Like (9) Dislike (5) Reply
      Put aside the government if these people had really care for the country they would have charge less for the sake of the children. I am aware that some children are very rude and could cause damage to property all the Education have to do is send a letter to all the parents of the children to let know if their child damage any property they will be responsible. I am quite sure that some of these people makes thousands of dollars from the government and they cannot help out.
  • yrral (20/06/2018, 11:06) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    The people of city .just past a 56 million dollar bond issue,school district in the US are allowed to levy taxes on people property,fund are payed by the State of Texas and Federal government z 200 thousand dollar on average ,what is paid to educate a child from Kindergarten to 12 grade in Texas
  • um (20/06/2018, 11:27) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why can’t they use HLSCC? If it’s done online they could use the auditorium - or divide them into 6 groups and use the class rooms?
    • concern (21/06/2018, 10:09) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      I know the college has its challenges with space too but if they were approached, they would have made adjustments, the Virgin Gorda students were very comfortable I heard, at the centre over there, the principal worked on securing the space from early I heard.
  • Dim Sum (20/06/2018, 12:59) Like (6) Dislike (6) Reply
    What about the auditorium @ the college? Would ALL 170 be sitting exams at the same time? Couldn’t it be split between two akternatuve venues? Or even reschedule certain exams to a Saturday as is done in modern countries? Seems like not much out-of-the-box brainstorming goes on lately within MEC...
    • @DimSum (20/06/2018, 14:13) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
      The BVI have no control over when CXC schedules their exams and Saturday is certainly not a scheduled day for exams. THe auditorium seems to be a good thought to you but their are certain seating requirements outlined by CXC that has to be followed. The seats are to close at the auditorium to facilitate CXC exams. The solution chosen by the MEC worked well, that’s why there weren’t any negative reports put out on be exams. They ran smoothly be happy.
  • 123 (20/06/2018, 13:23) Like (11) Dislike (5) Reply
    the man even can't run a school and he wants to run a country hope Ronnie wins to save we
  • partent of ESHS (20/06/2018, 14:01) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply

    so who cares it they set the exam already? the fact is they were the issues at the time!! I saw someone X... Samuels fb posting she need to go take several seats...set of kiss r*ss fool

  • wow (20/06/2018, 14:01) Like (21) Dislike (1) Reply
    So we spending 700,000 on Festival and we don't have a school? smh. Lets get our priority straight.
  • you late (20/06/2018, 14:32) Like (12) Dislike (5) Reply
    Why are this an issue when the exam is already finish about 2 week ago by save the seed ..
  • tola (20/06/2018, 21:42) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    @123 principals run achools you idiot
  • trrefdrfds (21/06/2018, 05:40) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Everything mvw touch has failed
  • zoe (21/06/2018, 13:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    this news is still important


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