BY FABIAN BELGRAVE | AUG 9, 2022
Top student Renelle Best
With 100 per cent in both Mathematics and English, and an “A” in Composition, Renelle Tafari Best of St. Gabriel’s Primary, is the top performer in this year’s Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination (BSSEE).
The top boy overall is Azario Kamin Glenroy Gooding of St. George Primary. He scored 97 in Mathematics, 100 in English and received an “A” in Composition. They both will be attending Queen’s College.
Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Kay McConney, made the disclosure today, during a news briefing, where she released the results of the BSSEE 2022, in the conference room of the Media Resource Department, at the Elsie Payne Complex, Constitution Road, St. Michael.
While congratulating all students who sat the examination, Ms. McConney stressed it didn’t matter which school they attended come September and urged them to be proud of their accomplishments and do their best.
“Know that the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training will do all in its best to support you,” she said, as she acknowledged they had all performed successfully despite the “difficult circumstances” occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the other disclosures made by the Education Minister were that the scores in Mathematics ranged from 0-100; two female students gained full marks in Mathematics as compared to 37 students last year, and the National Mean for Mathematics this year is 57.5 per cent.
In addition to Renelle Best’s performance in Mathematics, one other female, Madison Smith, of St. Paul’s Primary, gained 100 per cent.
According to Ms. McConney, this year, females performed above the National Mean, with a mean of 59.7 per cent, whereas males performed slightly below the National Mean, with a percentage of 55.5 per cent.
Noting that the overall National Mean in English this year is 69.7 per cent, she said it compares to 66.3 per cent in 2021, and 69.3 per cent in 2020. “Again, generally, the scores in English were slightly better than last year,” she stated.
Three top performers emerged in English, all of whom gained 100 per cent. They were Renelle Best, of St. Gabriel’s Primary, Azario Gooding, of St. George Primary and Isaak Sebastian Headley, of St. Stephen’s Primary.
This year, 3,086 students were registered to write the BSSEE on July 5. These included students from 68 public primary schools and 29 private primary schools.
Minister McConney revealed that the 3,086 figure represented approximately 7.5 per cent less than in 2021, when 3,336 students were registered. Of the 3,086, 27 were absent because of medical reasons, as compared to 60 last year. They were later assessed using an alternate paper on July 19, and according to the Minister, have all been assured places at schools across the island.
