After “savouring” the results of the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE), minister Gokhool now has to face the discontent of some stakeholders. The Federation of Parents of Catholic Schools protested in front of the ministry of Education yesterday to show their disagreement with what they call a “lack of transparency” in the CPE results. They would like the details of results to be available to the public.

Even though the 1,260 pupils have not obtained the expected 4 A+ to secure a seat in a national college, the minister has reasons for rejoicing. The global success rate has increased by 3% compared to last year reaching almost 68%. Dharam Gokhool believes this is a “very encouraging sign for the reform programme”. The results in core subjects – English, French and Mathematics – have all increased compared to last year.

The new system implemented last year by Dharam Gokhool planned to give 1,260 candidates, who obtained 4 A+ a seat in one of the national colleges. However, results showed that only 1,050 of them obtained the necessary number of marks to qualify for a seat in those “star” schools. Hence, the seats have been offered to candidates obtaining “only” 3 A+. But this has led to another problem: instead of the 1,260 seats initially planned, it had to find 1,337 of them in view of the high number of pupils obtaining equal results.

<I>Next to these pupils who are guaranteed a seat in a secondary school, some others are anxious about their uncertain future.</I>

The director of the MES, Lucien Finette, gave assurance that the marking just like the allocation of seats in national colleges was done very strictly. “Nowhere else in the world have the marking and revising been made with such rigour,” he asserted. If people still have doubts or are discontented with the results obtained, they can still ask the MES to review the papers until 22nd December. Furthermore, parents can still ask for a transfer on 26th and 27th December if they do not agree with the college granted to their children.

The enrolment in schools allocated by the MES will take place onext Saturday while the Bureau of Catholic Education started the registration of requests for its 50 % reserved seats yesterday.

But next to these pupils who are guaranteed a seat in a secondary school, some others are anxious about their uncertain future. If some are fighting to obtain a seat in the college of their dreams – and despite a rise in the success rate this year – there are still a certain number of pupils (about 30% of those sitting for the exams) who have failed.

Those who have failed the CPE for the second time will be given a seat in the pre-vocational field. Those pupils will have an adapted programme in special classes for three years before enrolling for further technical training with the Industrial and Vocational Training Board – against payment – or joining the professional track. As almost all state or catholic colleges now propose at least one pre-vocational class, these pupils should not feel excluded and regain some of the confidence they may have lost with their failure.

The problem actually arises for children that are too old to fit in a school system. The state provides no formal structure for them. If their parents do not have financial means – which is often the case – then, they are not given any chance to follow any studies. They are left on their own and can’t hope to find a proper job and dream of a bright future. Fortunately, non-governmental networks such as Anfen give the chance to some of them to be taught how to read, write and calculate – and even more in some cases – but the state should make sure it takes care of all children equally!