Philipsburg: --- Some 18 students of Starlight Education Foundation that took the Secondary School Entrance Examination in May have given the school high hopes in the efforts to continue providing education to undocumented students.
Director of the institution Carmen Hodge in an interview with SMN News said the school sent up 20 students in the month of May for the examination, 18 of them she said passed and did very well despite not being able to attend school for six weeks in January.
Hodge said most of the students 9 plus of them did well at the St. Dominique School examination but these students still has one major hurdle because the school would not accept them if they are not in possession of their residency. After discussion 12 of the 18 students if they have the necessary documents can enter in that school.
Hodge said she had to plead with the school to at least allow the students to write the exams and if they are able to acquire their residence by August then they would be able to attend the school of their choice. She said the St. Dominique School is still enforcing the letter sent to all schools in 2006 by the island Lt. Governor and they are not considering the full implementation of compulsory education.
The school director said while the results are not the same for the St. Maarten Academy 5 of the students would be able to attend the Academic Section while 13 the PSVE section. The St. Maarten Academy she said is willing to accept all students. Hodge said based on previous classes most of the students who were sent to PSVE would eventually go over to the Academic after the first year. She said the students in most cases become fearful and nervous during the examinations.
The school director also had lots of praise for her sixth grade teacher whom she said did her best with the students in preparing them for the exams. She said even the parents considered teacher Goberdhan to be dedicated and faithful towards their children.
Hodge said with the results she said she is elated because under the circumstances and stress the students she said did well. She also thanked the business community for the effort they made by coming up with the finances that were necessary to reopen the school. She said she hoping for other businesses to come on board to assist the school until they can acquire government funding.
Hodge said she intends to meet with the new executive council before the end of the month where they would be discussing compulsory education and funding for all privatized schools. She said the St. Maarten Multipurpose Educational Foundation (SUMEF) would be meeting sometime this week where they would further discuss their plans when they meet the executive council.
Hodge said the teachers of these private schools are scheduled to take another training course from the Ceespot funding.
