Results for the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) examinations are out but the ?atmosphere? around the publication is far different from a few years ago. Parents must have realised that the ?ranking era? is now over and that they shouldn?t be so stressed about these results. All children will be allocated a seat in a school and this should be done quietly ? with no rush or anxiety.

The results for 2005 are slightly better than last year. The overall success rate reached 64.89% compared to 63% in 2004 with better results for girls once more (71.19% compared to 58.97%). The minister of Education, Dharam Gokhool, says he has mixed feelings about these results. ?The 35% failure rate remains worrying. I am satisfied but still concerned.?

No ranking next year

However, he appeared happy with the progress made by ZEP schools. Most of the schools of the Zone d?Education Prioritaire ? located in poor areas where children are more vulnerable ? have been far more successful. Although this does not prove that the better results are due to the ?Obeegadoo reform?, it could still be a sign.

The minister of Education revealed that the formula for CPE exams will probably not be any different next year, which means that the government has given up its decision to include an element of ranking in the exams. ?But we will bring some changes in the content. The main aspects of our reform will be applied as from 2007.? The minister pointed out that he would ?wait for recommendations of the committee on curriculum reform before taking any decision?.

The slight increase in the number of children who succeeded in the exams is a good sign for the future. Except for French, pupils have had better results in all subjects compared to last year. English is the subject where there has been more visible progress. Children have had slightly better results in oriental languages than they had last year but this proves once again that oriental languages do not have much weight on the final results. Pupils prefer to concentrate on core subjects such as French, English and Mathematics.

But the challenge of the government will be that of addressing a failure rate of 35%, which is still high. They will have to find ways to motivate children and give the great majority the opportunity to succeed in the CPE exams? As from next year.