Maintaining Excellence in the GCE

Who will fly to the top this year in the General Certificate of Education Examination in Cameroon?  That is the question that is on the lips of many Cameroonians.  Every year, there is very keen competition among secondary schools in English-speaking Cameroon for the lead position in the General Certificate of education Examination.  The common question is: which school will come first on the honor roll?  Always, there are eyes on a number of schools, among which are Sacred Heart College Mankon, PSS Mankon, Our Lady of Lourdes College Mankon, St. Bede's College Mankon, PSS Bafut and Saker Baptist college Limbe. These institutions have distinguished themselves over the years as havens of excellence. Interestingly, all of them are confessional colleges. Some Government colleges do very well too, but we are still to have one of them coming out with a 100% score. They usually argue that they send in more candidates for the exam than the Confessional schools and the candidates who pass in their schools outnumber those who pass in the confessional institutions. Hence, although they do not score 100%, they believe they render greater service to the nation by producing more passes.  Moreover they say because the Confessional colleges limit the number of candidates they send in, they are able to concentrate on that small number and enable them not only to pass but to score excellent grades as well. Some people buy this argument; some do not.
The truth is the confessional colleges do not only score 100% but their grades are spellbinding. Even in the international community they are well known for excellent standards. At home, they sell like hot cakes. Evey year the scramble for admission into them is very competitive.  Only the young ones who are outstanding in performance in the Government Common Entrance Examination and interview are admitted. This year interviews into three of these institutions: Sacred Heart College, Mankon, Our Lady of Lourdes College, and St. Bede's college Ashing have been billed for 15 June at the common venue of Sacred Heart College. It will not be easy for our young ones vying for positions into them. It is expected that only the best will make it. The Excellent standards must be upheld.