JAMAICA GLEANER- The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has reversed its decision to discontinue certification of certain subjects after consultation with regional ministers of education.
Dr Wayne Wesley, Registrar and CEO of CXC told The Gleaner that the about-turn by the regional examination body is “in the best interest” of the region.
“In the meeting this morning with ministers and hearing their perspective on some of the challenges and concerns that they have as well as listening to the voice of our key stakeholders in the public, we then decided that it is in the best interest, the collective regional good to (let) these subjects continue to be made available to the region,” he said.
Citing low enrolment, the CXC said in May that it would be suspending certification for mechanical engineering at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level, and green engineering, electrical and electronic engineering and technology, and agricultural science, double award, at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency (CAPE) level.
Its decision caused alarm in the education sector with stakeholders blasting the agency’s explanation as insufficient while criticising its monopoly on terminal exams in the region.
But Wesley noted that the deliberation with the ministers of education reinforced the need for a “collective regional marketing thrust to promote the priority subject areas in STEM, education and climate smart agriculture which are considered critical for the economic growth and sustainable development of the region.”
Of significance too, he added, was the requirement for the education systems to be resourced to deliver on some or all of these subject areas.
“The ministers were forthright in their positions, pledging their support for CXC and for more direct lines of communications with the council,” Wesley said.
Further, he said the CXC has also adopted new generation technology and science programmes, but some are not yet at the desired level of demand. He stressed that regional governments will work with CXC in building demand for these new programmes to make their cost viable.
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