By Vanessa Narine, From Guyana Chronicle

Visually impaired students set record with 82.4 percent CSEC pass rate

TEN individuals, with varying visual impairments, have set another record, in addition to being the largest batch to sit the Caribbean Secondary Examinations Council (CSEC), by securing a pass rate of 82.4 per cent.The names of the three top students were released at a press conference held at the headquarters of the Guyana Society for the Blind, on High Street.

Ms. Rosemarie Ramitt, 18, sat five subjects and secured grade ones in each subject; Ms. Odessa Blair, 36, secured five grade twos; and Mr. Vishal Mohabir, secured three grade ones, one grade two and one grade four.

The 18-month programme that engaged the students in lessons to prepare them to sit the CSEC exams was funded by the Education Ministry and supported by several private sector entities. The students sat five subject maximum, which included English, Social Studies, Principle of Business, Office Administration and Human and Social Biology.

The other seven students included: Leroy Phillip, Diane Singh, Anthony Robinson, Douglas Tika, Roy Stewart and Muesa Haynes, as well as Laurel Lewis, who also is physically impaired.

The students were engaged by the Guyana Society for the Blind, following an undertaking to educate persons who were visually impaired by providing equal opportunities through computer literacy in 2012. Under the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) programme, visually impaired persons were taught the proper usage of computer systems using the Jaws software and eventually became the brainchild for advancing secondary education. The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) sent the exams electronically to Guyana and the Jaws software was used to allow the students to sit the exams, some of whom were aided by scribes to record their answers to the exam questions.

INSPIRATION

Education Minister Priya Manickchand, commenting on students’ success, stated that the success of the students are an inspiration to her and will undoubtedly serve as an inspiration to students across Guyana and the wider Caribbean.

She said, “I am extremely pleased that as a country we were able to provide this service. I am very happy that Guyana, the largest centre in the Caribbean that entered so many students, saw such wonderful results. We believe that this can inspire other CSEC students.”

The minister added that the successful students deserve to be celebrated for their bold move in writing the exams.

“Initially, the students had said to me that they believe this would be impossible. They have shown us that perseverance, belief in oneself and support from stakeholders, in an environment supported by the Government, can do so much. For that I am forever grateful to them.”

The Education Minister noted too that this success is another example of how effective and useful the OLPF programme is, since the students were all beneficiaries under the programme.

“The laptops they received were specifically installed with software that gave the students the ability to study, studying that culminated in the results we are seeing now,” she said.

Minister Manickchand was emphatic that investment in the people for any country pays off in both the individual’s life, as well as in the country.

“I warmly congratulate students, teachers and parents and I thank them for the inspiration,” she said.

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES

Coordinator of the project, Mr. Ganesh Singh, who is also visually impaired, stated that the 18-months were months of challenges, including the fact that many of the 10 students participating came on board with primary level education, having dropped out of school because of their disability.

“Through our collaborations, we were able to successfully get past these challenges,” Singh said.

According to him, considering the limitations facing the students and tutor, particularly in terms of limited resources, the pass rate of 82.4 per cent is most commendable.

“I am on cloud 10,” he exclaimed.

Supported by external experts in the different subject areas, one of four teachers, Ms. Venessa Deosaran, also added her views, and pointed out that many days the participating students came to classes on an empty stomach, battled with their lack of resources, but remained committed nonetheless.

“They have accomplished so much, regardless,” she said.

Mr. Cecil Morris, who is also one of the project coordinators, added that the Society is now better placed to continue with the programme, having gone through the ‘teething-phase’ with the first batch of students.

He pointed out that this is another way in which the Society can, not only increase visibility for its cause, but at the same time increase the support it offers for persons with disabilities and enable them to make noteworthy contributions to society.

“If we have greater support, the sky is the limit,” he said.

NEXT STEP

There are plans in the pipelines for a rehabilitation of the High Street building, to ensure better classroom facilities.

The Guyana Society for the Blind team contends too that with the requisite funding, they will be able to advance decentralisation of the services currently being offered to benefit a wide cross section of visually impaired Guyanese.

Additionally, to date, 10 students have registered for the next 18-month undertaking with the hopes of sitting the 2014/2015 CSEC exams.

The Guyana Society for the Blind’s CSEC programme was officially launched on January 7, 2013. The project had started with 15 students from Regions 3 and 4, but owing to circumstances and resources only 10 remain to write the examinations next month.

For more on this story go to: http://guyanachronicle.com/guyana-a-trailblazer-among-caribbean-counterparts/