School conducts student entry test

By ERIC PIET
A SCHOOL in Port Moresby is conducting entry tests for new students as the start of the 2019 school year nears.
Students wanting to join grade nine and grade 11 at the Caritas Technical Secondary School are sitting for the tests.
Sister Dorotea Regis told The National that the school conducted the first test last October for about 60 students, and the second test for another lot this month. Registration begins on January 14.
Regis said the school operated on a dual curriculum – technical and academic. It is, therefore, a requirement to test students’ abilities on both to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
“If students do not pass the required mark for the two grades in the first entry test, we allow them to re-sit the test so that they can pass,” she said.
Regis said apart from determining their entry test results, they also assess their internal and external examination marks from their previous schools plus their personal character references.
“We also consider the record of their behaviour. Those with fine behaviour are readily accepted as we know that they will fare well in this school to become productive citizens of the country,” she said.
“Our curriculum does not only focus on the academic side of studies. We also equip them with technical life skills as not everyone will secure places in the higher learning institutions and get formal jobs.
“Those who do not make it past grade 12 will at least have something to fall back on. That is the importance of teaching them technical courses here at Caritas.”
The technical courses include computing, sewing and cooking for lower grades (nine and 10).
“For upper grades, we deliver information communication technology, tourism and hospitality management, cosmetology, and office administration.”