By: Stacey-Ann Anderson
The Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Department of Education Services (DES) have released the 2022-23 Education Data Report, highlighting positive gains in achievement among secondary school students, particularly in core subjects.
“We’re encouraged by the data, especially the 13.3 and 12.6 percentage point increases in English and math passes, respectively, for Year 11 students,” stated MoE Acting Chief Officer Ms. Lyneth Monteith.
Year 11 students also demonstrated marked improvement in meeting the National Expected Standard of five or more Level 2 passes (including math and English), with an 11-percentage point increase over 2022. After excluding math and English, this figure rose to 13.3%, indicating overall academic growth.
DES Director Mark Ray acknowledged the importance of core subjects and outlined a multi-pronged approach to strengthen math education. “While we celebrate the progress in core subjects, we recognise the need for continued focus on math,” Mr. Ray remarked. “To address this, we are continuing the implementation of the math strategy and have recruited 14 math specialists for primary schools. These initiatives aim to strengthen the foundation in this crucial subject and ultimately improve its passes at all levels.”
The Data Report further underscores the effectiveness of school intervention programmes. Value-added analysis revealed a significant improvement of 1.84 grade points in English and 1.2 grade points in science for Year 11 students with initially low Cognitive Abilities Test Fourth Edition (CAT4) scores, allowing them to achieve satisfactory results. This translates to students in that category improving on their predicted exam results by almost 2 grade points in the case of English and 1 grade point for science.
With respect to the Year 12 cohort, the report depicted improvements, including a substantial 23.5 percentage point increase in math attainment and a notable 12.5 percentage point improvement in English.
Furthermore, the report reveals an increase in enrollment across all levels, with Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) experiencing a 2.5 percentage point rise compared to 2021-22. Overall attendance remains stable at 90.0% for primary and 90.2% for secondary schools.
“While we acknowledge that occasional illnesses can impact attendance,” stated the DES Director, “consistent attendance is crucial for student success. We are committed to working with schools and families to ensure all students meet the national attendance expectations set by the Office of Education Standards (OES).”
At Key Stage 2 (Year 6), data reflects stable performance across subjects, although a gender gap persists, with girls outperforming boys by an average of 16 percentage points, particularly in writing. The report also highlights the need for further focus on greater overall intervention at this level.
The Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, Premier and Minister for Education summed up the report’s findings. She said, ““A well-educated citizenry is the cornerstone of a thriving nation. These positive trends signify progress towards a more qualified and capable workforce, ultimately contributing to the social and economic development of the Cayman Islands.”
For more information on Education Data Reports or to access the Education Data Report for the 2022-2023 academic year, visit the MOE website at https://www.gov.ky/publication-detail/data-report-2023 .
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