Kuti goes to third form

• 12-y-o CSEC star enters JC's accelerated programme
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Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer

In March this year, 12-year-old Kuti Ra Mahakoe sat his Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) and, three months later, sat six subjects in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations - he passed them all!

Homeschooled, the 12-year-old scored 90s in four subject areas and 66 in the other in the GSAT placement examinations. He also got a grade-one pass for CSEC's human and social biology; grade-two passes in English A and biology; as well as grade-three passes for geography, mathematics and social studies.

While his GSAT scores might have earned him a place at Jamaica College (JC), one of the island's premier all-boys high schools located in Kingston, it was his CSEC success that has led JC principal Ruel Reid to agree to place him in third form when he begins school in September.

"The parents contacted us today and we agreed that we would place him in third form. That was exactly what we thought as well, because we already have an accelerated programme where a lot of kids, bright kids, are allowed to take CSEC, maths and English, for example, in fourth form. So the school is well poised and positioned to take care of this particular student," Reid told The Gleaner on Monday at the Jamaica Teachers' Association annual conference at Sunset Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios, St Ann.

Details to be worked out

But what will be on this brilliant boy's curriculum in third form? Will he have to do the subjects that he has already passed at CSEC? The question was put to Reid.

"At third form, you are exposed to the entire curriculum that we offer going forward into the CSEC programme. So we will have to work out which subjects he may pursue and whether he has gained an exemption, et cetera, but, certainly, we will give him an opportunity to be exposed to all subjects," the principal explained.

In congratulating the youngster and his parents, Reid said Kuti's success has reinforced the fact that the education system can perform at different levels and that students, in fact, can sit CSEC exams at varying stages and ages and be successful.

"And, to that end, we believe in flexible programmes that allow for gifted students to advance, and those who require special help also to get special help. This is very consistent with what we're doing now at JC in terms of accelerated programmes and the supportive intervention programmes. It's very consistent with our whole strategy," said Reid.

The accelerated programme at JC is not commonplace in Jamaica. In fact, Reid said Jamaica has some catching up to do with other Caribbean countries where this is concerned.

"I know a lot of countries across the region have an accelerated programme. Indeed, many of them allow their students to do CSEC at various stages, from third form right up. Jamaica is a little bit behind in this, because it is very much happening regionally."

Kuti is not the first case of success involving homeschooling, but it may trigger renewed debate regarding the practice.

Reid, an adviser to the Ministry of Education, said the practice was a matter of choice for parents, but suggested that standards should be in place to ensure that students being homeschooled are in no way worse off than those attending formal institutions.