DJSS Second Chance Programme in St. Lucy Boosts Student Academic Achievements

The Daryll Jordan Secondary School (DJSS) in St Lucy has launched an initiative aimed at helping students improve their academic qualifications.

The “Second Chance Programme” provides students with additional time to retake or pursue new Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) exams, giving them a fresh opportunity to excel.

Under the scheme, students – whether from Daryll Jordan or transfers from other institutions – can extend their stay in upper school to boost their academic credentials. Principal Ken Layne praised the programme’s impact, saying it continues to yield significant results.

“Our Second Chance programme continues to thrive, offering students an additional two years in upper school to improve their academic qualifications,” Layne said. He explained that the initiative also welcomes transfers from other schools who join in upper fifth form, allowing them to study new subjects that may not have been available at their previous institutions.

Highlighting the programme’s success, Layne shared several examples of students who have benefitted from the unique opportunity. “For example, one student who was struggling at another school joined us in the third form, became our Head Girl, and graduated with seven CXC passes,” Layne said. “Another student who transferred in the fourth year now has eight CXC passes, all at grades one and two.”

Students participating in the programme have consistently left the school with improved qualifications. According to Layne, one recent graduate has gone on to attend the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, to pursue a degree in science and technology. “This student, despite physics not being part of our curriculum, earned a grade two in the physics CXC, contributing to her total of 10 passes,” he revealed.

Layne went on to share additional success stories, pointing to a student who passed six CXC exams in a single sitting, earning four grade ones and two grade twos.

But while the rural northern school has celebrated numerous individual successes, its overall pass rate for the May/June 2024 exams was 63 per cent, a slight dip from last year’s 64 per cent. Layne noted that homegrown students typically secure up to nine subjects.

The principal expressed his gratitude to the school’s faculty and staff, whose dedication has been critical to the programme’s achievements. “I want to extend my sincere thanks to our faculty and support staff for their extraordinary efforts,” Layne said. “They have gone above and beyond, offering free lessons and sacrificing their Easter vacation to help our students achieve these remarkable results. Their dedication is truly commendable.”