The Education Minister has admitted that she is s not happy with the number of students missing out on O levels but has defended her ministry's triumphant statements saying there was nothing wrong in celebrating successful students.
"We are not happy with the number of students who did not sit their exams but we are addressing this situation through radical reforms," Dolores Cristina said when asked why her ministry only trumpeted the O level pass rates but ignored the large number of Form 5 students who did not sit for their exams.
A controversy erupted last week following a statement by the ministry saying that almost 90 per cent of students sitting for their O levels had passed their core subjects but giving little other detail.
Labour spokesman on Education Evarist Bartolo criticised the statement, arguing it was misleading. He pointed out that only half of Form 5 students actually passed their O levels when one took into account those who did not sit for the exam.
Mrs Cristina admitted that "a substantial amount" of students who went to area secondary schools chose not to sit for Matsec exams but insisted the educational authorities were focusing their efforts on these students "all year round".
"The reforms intended to bring about a smooth transition between primary and secondary and the removal of the division between students who went to area secondary schools and Junior Lyceums are intended to help such students. However, there is nothing wrong in celebrating with those who passed their exam," Mrs Cristina said.
The three streams within the colleges, she added, enabled children to progress at their own pace while support for children who were falling behind was also given at primary school level.
"We are aware of those students who need help and are doing our utmost to address their needs such as engaging more learning support assistants, teacher psychologists and trainee councillors and the setting up of nurture groups for primary students and learning support zones for secondary students," she said, adding it would be wrong to focus only on the high-flyers.
The University Students' Council (KSU) welcomed the positive results obtained by students sitting for the Matsec A level and intermediary exams.
It said the results showed "students were taking these exams seriously" and noted with satisfaction the 82 per cent pass rate in Systems of Knowledge, which was a compulsory entry requirement for the University.
However, KSU was concerned at the low percentage of students who sat for the maths exam and actually passed.