Glendevon Primary students celebrated PEP success achieved during community riot

WESTERN BUREAU:

The school family at Glendevon Primary and Junior High, in St James, is today celebrating the success of their grade-six cohort as, despite sitting their 2025 Primary Exit Profile examination during a riot in the community, 30 of the 40 students scored over 300 points.

Leading the way among the successful students was top boy Gaville Goubourn, who scored 391.9 points out of a possible 400 points, and top girl Britannia Mattis, who scored 375.2 points. The two were deemed as highly proficient in PEP’s subject areas, placing them on the first of PEP’s three competency pathways.

Twelve-year-old Goubourn, who will attend Herbert Morrison Technical High School in September, told The Gleaner that the exam was not difficult for him.

“I feel good about being the top boy in the PEP, because the result I got was what I expected. It was not very difficult, it was easy, and in my preparation for the exam I looked at past information that I wrote down in my notes,” said Goubourn, who has not yet decided on his career path. “I like to watch TV and play my games, but I know that you also have to focus on the schoolwork at times.”

Mattis, also 12 years old, was not as expressive in speaking to her success, but was happy she did as well as she did.

“Some parts of the exam were challenging, but I still did great. I just feel happy that I got what I wanted, and to be able to go to my school of choice,” said Mattis, the school’s head girl. “In my preparation, I went through my notes that I had gotten since the school year started.”

Mattis, who will be matriculating to Mt Alvernia High School in September, has her sights set on becoming a flight attendant or a chef.

Dr Audrey Peynado, the school’s principal, praised the teachers for their role in preparing the students despite the external challenges in the community, which is now under a zone of special operations (ZOSO).

“We are elated, we are excited, because we are part of the inter-ministerial schools, one of the schools in the ZOSO region, and we are really performing well. Looking at our PEP results this year, they have exceeded our expectations, and it is as a result of our dedicated teachers… these teachers are stalwarts, they have been carrying the grade six cohort, and they have worked tremendously hard because we know what we have to work with at Glendevon Primary,” said Peynado.

“The week of the PEP exam we had a riot in the area, where there was burning of tyres right below the school, and we had to park and walk up. My grade-six teachers came in and we had to walk the children on the sidewalk in order for them not to get hurt,” Peynado explained. “I say kudos to the commitment of the team here at Glendevon Primary, and we give thanks for the support we are getting from the board, the parents, and the entire Glendevon community.”

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com