Parents, teachers confident students did well

THE Springer Memorial Secondary School was a hive of activity and nervous excitement as students, stationery in hand, made their way into the school to sit the Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examination (BSSEE) on Tuesday.

 

Nervous parents were left on the outside of the school grounds standing and awaiting the return of their child or ward upon completion of the two-part 11-Plus examination, consisting of English and Mathematics.

 

Mitchelle Maxwell, Deputy Principal of the Springer Memorial Secondary School, told the media, “We have 252 students comprising Blackman and Gollop Primary, Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary, Belmont Primary, St. Giles Primary and a few students from various schools such as St. Angela’s Primary, Happy Vale Montessori Primary School, registered to take the Barbados Secondary School Examination.

 

“Preparations were put in place from Friday ensuring the rooms were ready, and security checks were done this morning at 6:30 a.m. prior to the exam. 

 

“We expect to have a smooth operation as it pertains to the examination this morning, which is broken up into two – Essay and Grammar, and Mathematics.” 

 

Parent, Troy Johnson, was one of the many parents and guardians on the outside of the Springer Memorial school as he waited on daughter, Zaria Johnson. He told The Barbados Advocate, “I am more nervous than my daughter. During the course of the time it was okay, but this morning the flutters have it.

 

“She has been going to lessons and doing extra work in between, so hopefully she will do well to pass for her first choice Springer Memorial.”

Calvin Williams was amongst the parents standing outside the gate. 

 

He noted, “I was not worried by the threatened actions of the Barbados Union of Teachers affecting the 11-Plus children. I was more worried of after the 11-Plus and the correction of the papers and the possibility of late results, but other than that I was not worried about the 11-Plus.

 

“In terms of my daughter, I am very confident she will do well. Whatever she does will be good for me. She has already made me proud in NAPSAC and I am grateful for whatever she does. At present she attends the St. Giles Primary and I must commend her teacher, Mr. Stoute, for his passionate attitude in teaching the students, my daughter included. The students in his class also have great respect for him and they tend to do well during the term. I have no doubt she and the other St. Giles students will do good.”

 

Students reduced to tears

 

After the first part of the exam was finished, students came out smiling as they related to parents and guardians their prowess in the English section 

of the exam. However, it was the Mathematics paper which reduced many to tears upon leaving the exam room, running into the arms of their parents, tears streaming down their faces.

 

Lisa Wiles, a student of Charles F. Broome Memorial, told The Barbados Advocate, “2016 paper was harder than 2015 paper. The Composition and Grammar was easy, but Section Two and Three of the Mathematics paper was hard. I am relieved the exam is over and I hope I pass for my first choice of Queen’s College.”

 

Teacher John Gittens of Charles F. Broome Memorial noted, “I am very confident my students did well. Some of them said Section Three of the Mathematics paper was challenging, but my children were well prepared. Children at Charles F. Broome are generally well prepared. It is concerning a lot are in tears about the Mathematics paper, but generally we will do well. I do not like to see them crying because I like them to be able to conquer challenges. The fact there are tears means there are sums or one particular sum that was challenging, but I always tell them there are things you may not be comfortable with, but just apply yourself to it because that is just fear.

 

“Now the exam is finished, some of the students will be taken to Divi Southwinds for a treat arranged by their parents where they can relax and have fun. The next day at school, we will review the exam papers with them and show them where they went wrong so they can apply it later on.”