94% of eighth and twelfth grade students have now passed the Standardized Scholastic National Tests over the three sessions. The Ministry of Education says that according to analysis of the year’s examinations by the Educational Quality Evaluation Department, 94.21% of high school students (30,860 candidates) passed the examinations taken in June and August.
At the same time a total of 148,562 eighth grade students also passed their tests, or 96.03%.
Other statistics showed a marked improvement in the exam pass rate. El Caribe says that the third and last session for retaking the test will take place in November.
However the number is reasonably small with just 6,145 students at primary level, 1,897 adults, 34,990 at secondary level and 3,885 students at technical professional level awaiting the third opportunity to pass these tests.
The statement by the Minister contradicts recent claims by the president of the Federation of Parents with Children in Private Public Schools (FEDEPADRES) Juan Avila Abreu, the Federation who called for an end to the tests. He regretted that 35% of 8th grade students end their studies because of having failed the National Tests.