In regional education news, the governing Board of the Caribbean Examination Council has decided to give 4th form and 6th form Students a small ease. They have decided to postpone the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate known as CSEC, and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination known as CAPE exams by 3 weeks.
The CXC's Governing Board is made up of governments from across the Caribbean region, and for months now, the education ministers from CARICOM Nations have been agitating for the exact outcome. The effects coming from the major, 2-year loss of in-class instruction, due to COVID-19, have severely hurt the region's education sectors.
And so, CXC has decided that the postponement is necessary. The decision was announced at midday today during a regional press conference. Here's what Dr. Wayne Wesley, the Registrar, and CEO of the Caribbean Examination Council, had to say on the topic:
Dr. Wayne Wesley, Registrar, and CEO of the CXC
"The Caribbean Examination Council stands in solidarity with the region and the international community as we grapple with the impact of Covid19 on our way of life. The council recognizes the impact of Covid19 on the education system in general and more specifically on the schedule of CXC's regional examinations. At a special meeting of council this morning the governing board of the Caribbean Examination Council which is made up of governments from across the region was held today, following feedback from regional ministries of education and the timing of the 2022 regional examinations. Members of council reviewed and reach a consensus on the recommendations for CXC's school examination committee on the strategy for 2022 regional examinations. After careful deliberations and consideration of all the pertinent issues, council agreed that the revised strategy for the 2022 regional examinations shall be as follows: a delay in the sitting of the regional examinations by 3 weeks. This will provide candidates with additional time to prepare for the examinations. Therefore, examinations will commence on Monday 23 May, 2022 and the results projected to be release in late August or early September. The details will be determined and communicated accordingly."
'Secondly, extension of the submission of school-based assessment from the June 30, 2022 by a further 2 weeks for the submission for both CAPE and SESEC SBA's."
"Thirdly, that the release of broad topics be communicated to the candidates. CXC will share with the ministries of education for communication with candidates. The broad topics to be be assessed on paper 2. We continue to work with our stakeholders in the best interest of our students across the region."
These adjustments to the strategy are in addition to concessions that CXC has already put in place to date, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. These include a reduction of the SBA requirements by as much as 50 percent in some subjects. The deadline for the submission of SBA's has been extended by six weeks. Also, Candidates have the option to defer some or all of their Examinations to either January or June 2023.
