IGCSE results - Students share mixed feelings |19 January 2018

After finishing five years of secondary school and sitting their exam in late 2017 (around October-November), students have finally received their results which will specify which post-secondary they will continue their studies.

Seychelles NATION visited three schools in the central region of Mahé to see what the students who have just received their results think about their performance and future studies. While some are happy with their results, others think that they could have done better.

Visiting the English River secondary school, we saw many students lining up to collect their results. These were the different comments said by the students:

“Well after getting my results, I discovered did badly when I expected to do better. I studied for the exam, but it wasn’t at all what I was expecting as my final grade. I hope to go to Seychelles Tourism Academy to continue my studies,” said a female student.  

“I studied pretty well for my exam, but I didn’t do very well. Frankly I expected a better result, but I still think that I can continue my studies, which I hope will be at STA,” said another.

After visiting the Belonie secondary school, certain students were more enthused about their score compared to others.

“I thought I had failed, but after receiving my results, it was fine. I did very well in one subject, that being French, and I wish to study at STA as I plan to become a receptionist”.

“I studied before my exam, and I thought I did very well. After collecting my result, I surpassed the grades I had hoped to get. I want to go to the Maritime Academy because I want to become a marine biologist”.

The Mont Fleuri secondary school was also giving their results as deputy head teacher Erina Pillay shared her thoughts on the students’ results. She mentioned that the results that they have received this year are worse compared to the results of 2016.

“The grades have slipped compared to the year before. We haven’t yet done a complete analysis, but we are looking at different factors on how to get the students to succeed. We will be having a meeting and finding ways to get better grades from students and frankly I believe that a main problem from these grades were due to the selection process. Some students might have been put with less disciplined students, which may have affected their ability to learn. And the students themselves didn’t have the right attitude, as they started missing classes. We are reviewing different ways to deal with these problems and I personally believe that these students could have done better,” says Ms Pillay.

Some people believe that the main cause of students not wanting to learn is because they don’t know what they wish to do in the future as a career. Striving for a specific objective is the main mindset that may help the students focus on their studies.

The students from Mont Fleuri secondary school commented:

“I think the exam wasn’t really difficult as I expected it to be tougher, and I studied which helped with my score. I plan to do my A-Levels because I wish to continue my education all the way to university. I plan to do Law, History and Sociology”.

“I found the exam to be easy and my results are satisfactory. I want to go to SBSA because I want to get a diploma in Accounting”.

Students outside classes waiting to collect their results seemed nervous and many of them complained about their scores being low.

Getting a new plan for students to learn will probably be the next step for schools.