St Elizabeth PEP students persevere despite Hurricane Beryl setback last year

They were the COVID-19 cohort and were hit by the onslaught of Hurricane Beryl last year, yet administrators of three primary schools in St Elizabeth report that their students stood firm, overcame the odds, and performed well in the recent Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exams.

Perhaps the hardest hit by Beryl was Bull Savannah Primary, where classrooms, particularly the grade five and six buildings, were destroyed. Administrators used tents, an adjoining basic school, and a church to bring students up to speed in the aftermath of the storm.

"We did better than we expected. Forty-eight out of 52 of our students have achieved level one proficiency," noted Principal Collin Cameron, adding that St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) is a favourite of students and many had the chance to attend that school.

"If we had the space, we would have had a teacher set, and we would have brought up more of those who were at levels two and three," he charged. "Had all things been equal, I'm sure a good amount of those two's would have been ones."

Cavene Headlam, principal of Top Hill Primary, explained that 23 students took the exams, and of that number 12 of them achieved pathway one proficiency, meaning they are "independent learners," adding that only three students were at level three. Nine students were placed at their schools of choice.

"We had a rough time with them, but we persevered," charged Headlam, who said the school is still suffering from infrastructure woes, worsened by the passage of Beryl.

Meanwhile, Principal Clover Evans, of Red Bank Primary School, said despite setbacks from the storm, her students performed excellently, securing places at some of the top traditional high schools in that region, including Hampton, Manchester High and STETHS.

"Out of 22 children, we have 16 matriculating to pathway one, five at pathway two, and only one child given us pathway three," she said. "We would have done exceptionally well to bring these children where they are and if more parents were more supportive we would have received even better passes," she offered.

- Corey Robinson

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