Arrindell says figures show dropout rate at 33 per cent

PHILIPSBURG--When taking a general, not definitive, overview of the school dropout ratio in St. Maarten, Minister of Education Rhoda Arrindell puts the percentage at 33.

The Minister discussed this issue and more on Wednesday at the latest lecture series hosted by University of St. Martin (USM) focusing on achieving universal primary education, the second Millennium Development Goal (MDG) for St. Maarten (see related story).

With the recent disclosure by Member of Parliament Romain Laville that youth unemployment stands at approximately 36 per cent, the 33 per cent dropout rate correlates to an extent. However, the Minister made sure to point out that no specific reason could be identified at present.

Arrindell explained that with an elementary school population of more than 5,000 students, and a secondary school population of more than 3,000 students, with an average gross completion rate of 67 per cent (69 per cent for girls and 65 per cent for boys), the dropout ratio today probably would be approximately 33 per cent or one out of every three secondary school students in their final year.

"This is more or less the same proportion reported by Reda Social for 2001. What has happened is that a decade later the situation seems to have remained status quo," the Minister said. "These figures are still being crunched and fine-tuned to facilitate a comprehensive analysis of the situation that would help us identify the causes and find workable solutions."

For her, personally, Arrindell said there was no doubt that the figures mentioned pointed to the fact that "our education system is not adequate enough to satisfy our 21st century needs that would allow us to build a virile, dynamic and progressive St. Maarten nation. Some people would say our education system is failing too many of us. Indeed, a quick glance at the performance of our secondary schools last year is very revealing," she said.

"Why are St. Dominic High and St. Maarten Academy (academic section) doing so much better than MPC and Sundial School, for example? Is it because of the language of instruction, or the number of students at the schools? Is it the teachers or the curriculum or the teaching methods? Are the school boards, school management, or parents to blame also? Or is it a matter of general educational philosophy and policy?

"Honestly, if you ask me, I would say it is all of the above. However, to use a medical analogy, the patient (our educational system) is being diagnosed and the appropriate prescription will follow as soon as the symptoms have been X-rayed."

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/26018-arrindell-says-figures-show-dropout-rate-at-33-per-cent-.html

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