This form of learning has its pros and cons but Grenadians are now finding that their children exit school with few critical thinking skills and have a hard time sharing, verbalizing thoughts and problem solving. The students aren't given a chance to critically think with hands-on activities and projects but are instead required to recite what a teacher is saying followed by a test. For example, my grade 1 students recite things all day, write little in their compositions and then are expected to remember everything they learned that day. Exams were this week and my grade 1 students had an 8 page written test of things they learned in the first week of school.
Anyways...I got off topic. At the end of grade 6 students are required to take the Common Entrance Exam which places them in their secondary school. The entire 6th grade is dedicated to studying for this test because if you do not pass (as 14 students did not), you must repeat the 6th grade and try again next year. If you pass the test you are then placed in the secondary school of your preference and continue your education until the next exam, the CXC, to complete secondary school. If you continue to fail the Common Entrance there is a similar test that can be taken but often times there are students who are 14-15 in the 6th grade because they have failed the Common Entrance so many times. It's sad.
The positive outlook though is that Grenada is looking to restructure their school system to make for less exams, more hands-on learning and more integrated classrooms/schools. Grenada is taking the right steps to ensure every student has the opportunity for a free education, it's just going to take a while.
Attached are some pictures of the graduation ceremony, all THREE and a HALF hours of it!
The choir made up of all grades of students. They sang John Lennon "Imagine"
My school
The graduates getting ready for the procession
The principal, Mrs. Peterkin
The graduates sang a John Mayer song
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