SC Results: English pass rate drops

19,413 candidates who took part in the School Certificate examinations (SC) in 2015 received their results online on Tuesday, January 19. While 14 colleges have achieved 100% pass rate for the exams, the general performance level in English keeps on dropping. Tears of joys or sadness – students finally got their School Certificate results. 19,413 candidates received their SC results online on Tuesday, January 19. In all, 15,675 students took part in these exams in October and November 2015 (7,205 boys and 8,470 girls). Once more, girls have performed better than boys with a success rate of 76.4% and 67.93% respectively. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"8145","attributes":{"class":"media-image wp-image-15135 alignleft","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"289","height":"739","alt":"Percentage pass"}}]] The 14 colleges which obtained 100% pass rate are: Royal College of Port Louis; Forest-Side SSS [girls]; Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI) Moka; Queen Elizabeth College (QEC); Rabindranath Tagore Institute (RTI); Droopnath Ramphul State College; Maurice Curé State College; Gaetan Raynal State College; Loreto College of Quatre-Bornes, Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI) Centre de Flacq; Islamic Institute of Secular Studies; Collège Sainte-Marie; Morning Star School and the Islamic Cultural College (ICC) Form VI of Vallée des Prêtres. In a press conference on the same day, the Mauritius Examination Syndicate (MES) revealed that the pass rate for the SC for year 2015 is of 72,5%. However, a decline was noted compared to 2014 where the pass rate was of 73,4% – that is a decline of 0,91%. In addition to this, performance in core subjects like English has also dropped. According to the distribution of ‘grades’ per subject published on the website of the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate (MES), the success rate in English is of 88.35% this year against 89.57% in 2014 and 90.61% in 2013. The percentage of students who have obtained a ‘Credit 1-6’ is of 50.79% this year, against 53.16% in 2014. This decline in success rates is also visible in French. Last year, 83.37% of candidates passed and 51.26% obtained a Credit. In 2014, the success rate was 84.83% in French and the percentage of candidates with a Credit was of 54.86%. According to Lucien Finette, education expert and former director of the MES, this drop in performance in English and French is due to a lack of exposure to these languages. “We must first clarify that the situation is not at all alarming. The drop in performance is not significant… However, we must realise that this downward trend has been ongoing over recent years. This can be explained by the fact that students are less exposed to English and French. Also, many young people do not read. Reading is not a focus of interest for many of them,” he said. On the bright side, Math pass rate (Syllabus D) for this year has known a slight increase. The success rate is of 79.3% against 77.87% in 2014. According to Mr Finette, there is reason to rejoice regarding performance at SC exams. “Free exams have enabled a greater number of students to participate. This is good, for those who, due to financial constraints could not sit for the exams; they were able to get a chance. Although the figures show a decline, the situation is far from alarming,” he stated. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"8146","attributes":{"class":"media-image wp-image-15136 alignleft","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"381","height":"241","alt":"Screen Shot 2016-01-21 at 13.58.33"}}]] [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"8147","attributes":{"class":"media-image wp-image-15137 alignright","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"388","height":"241","alt":"Screen Shot 2016-01-21 at 13.58.38"}}]]