A cut above

Tonielia Rowe’s eighth-place regional finish in textiles, clothing and fashion in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations feels like a first-place victory for Greater Portmore High School in St Catherine.

Principal Ricardo Ross is beaming with pride over the achievement, which has brought renewed attention and confidence to the institution.

Ross explained that Greater Portmore High typically receives students straight from primary school, many of whom enter with significant learning deficits. Reading and comprehension levels are often well below grade standard, and only a small number arrive fully prepared for the high school curriculum. Tonielia was among that handful.

Neither Tonielia nor her mother, Toniecia Pollock, was discouraged by the school’s reputation. Instead, Pollock encouraged her daughter to bloom where she was planted.

Tonielia did seven CSEC subjects and got five grade ones and two grade twos.

She placed eighth in the region, fourth in Jamaica, and first in the Ministry of Education Region Six in textiles, clothing and fashion. While fashion design is a future career goal, her immediate focus is medicine.

Her love for sewing began at Ascot Primary School, where she learned basic stitches from a teacher. Over time, she advanced to larger projects such as bed linen and towels.

“So when I saw it (the subject) on the option list, I was excited, and that’s why I chose it,” she told The Sunday Gleaner.

SURPRISED BY PLACEMENT

The course required both theory and practical work. Before major projects began, students focused on hand stitching, material control, fabric identification, and sewing tools.

“I had to make a dress for the examination. We had to make napkins, a table runner, and a tablecloth. We also had to make hair bonnets – all for the examination,” she recalled.

Although she consistently earned high marks for her coursework and was confident she would do well, she admitted that she was “very surprised” by her regional placement.

Now in sixth form at St Jago High School, Tonielia is studying biology, chemistry, computer science, and communication studies as she pursues her goal of becoming a doctor. She has not yet designed clothing for herself, noting that hurricane disruptions after exams delayed her plans.

Pollock said she was overwhelmed with pride when she learned of her daughter’s success.

“Well, she has been checking online because we needed the results so that we could apply for sixth form. We were abreast of the information on social media and when she told me what had happened, I was very happy for her… We were very excited. I was happy. I was screaming. Just a proud mom because I know the type of person that she is and I encourage her that she can be multifaceted,” she told The Sunday Gleaner.

“It doesn’t have to be necessarily the science subjects, but it’s really good to do other things. So that’s why I encourage her with the textile, clothing and fashion,” Pollock explained.

She believes her daughter’s passion for sewing may also be influenced by a grandaunt who is a seamstress and interior decorator. The family celebrated by gifting Tonielia a sewing machine, which she now uses to make pillowcases.

She said when Tonielia went to Greater Portmore High School, she refused to let anyone’s opinion of the school define her.

“She just focused and she did her work and she made her mark in the school. She had a very supportive set of teachers. Her principal was also very supportive of her, and of course, she has family support as well,” she told The Sunday Gleaner.

Textiles instructor Juliet Harris said Tonielia’s success has renewed interest in the subject, noting that skills training remains relevant.

“I have three boys presently. But over the years since I came, it was 23 students, then it fell down to about 14. Now, I think I’ve got 18. But Tonielia also did interior decorating. It is not a CSEC subject but part of the NVQJ programme through the HEART programme. She was also successful there,” Harris said.

Principal Ross said Tonielia’s achievement reflects deliberate intervention strategies aimed at improving student outcomes.

“Tonielia came in proficient. Upon entry to our school, off the bat, we realised her potential. A very calm young lady, but serious about her education. And she would have made it on the Principal’s Honour Roll every year. When we look at our school, one of the things that we try to push is to ensure that we motivate and encourage. And, the programmes would have taken her through the process to where she is,” he said.

He highlighted dramatic improvements in English language results and overall CSEC pass rates, crediting dedicated staff and student motivation.

“There would have been a move in [the pass rate for] English language from 21 per cent to 71.2 per cent. And when we look at our total entry for CSEC, which would include all subjects, we would have entered over 600 entries. And when we did the calculation ... , last year our average pass rate was 56 per cent passes between grades one, two and three. And this year our pass rate would have moved ... to 82 per cent,” he told The Sunday Gleaner.

“Our intake on a yearly basis would have been those students whose performance would be at pre-primer, grade one. So 90 per cent of our students coming to us from the primary schools, they weren’t or they are not at the state of readiness for high school. Hence, we have to do a number of interventions, introduce a number of intervention programmes,” he said, issuing a challenge to next year’s cohort to beat these results.

erica.virtue@gleanerjm.com