Grace Scholars' next challenge!
Our current cohort of Grace scholars are in their "troisieme" year of secondary school. This year is important because they will sit for and hopefully pass a national examination, the BEPC (Brevet d'Etudes du Premier Cycle du Second Degré). This exam allows students to graduate from junior high school and continue onto senior high school, and essentially determines their educational future. How the young women score on this exam will determine if they can continue high school and if so, what "track" they will pursue. If someone does not pass the BEPC, and the student has not yet “redoublé” (retaken a grade level) within the school, the student may repeat the grade and attempt the exam again the following year. If she does not pass on the 1st attempt, she is now falls behind her peers. We want to help increase the chances of the Grace Scholars passing this exam with flying colors by providing additional support for those who need it in critical subject areas including science, mathematics, and French. We are hiring subject matter tutors to meet with the girls outside of school to supplement their review and preparation for this exam. Concerning the general performance of Ivorian students, only 25% of candidates sitting for the BEPC succeed in passing this national examination. The foreseeable consequences in the medium and long-term of school and social losses are expressed in terms of socio-political risks, socio-economic and financial costs, and the development of the country. Recent data from the United Nations showed that females are still underrepresented in secondary schools with a participation rate of 38.81% compared to males with a 53.31% rate. |
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