BARBADOS | CXC to review 2020 results says Sir Hillary Beckles

BARBADOS | CXC to review 2020 results says Sir Hillary Beckles

By Wiredja.com – Calvin G. Brown

BRIDGETOWN,  Barbados, Sept. 29, 2020 – Following a wave of protests from students and parents across region, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has softened its stance announcing that a team will be employed to review its 2020 results.

CXC chairman Professor Sir Hilary Beckles in a statement yesterday, admitted that the move was necessary considering the numerous concerns raised regarding the results in this year’s Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).

Sir Hilary said an Independent Review Team would be installed in short order, noting that “it was anticipated that given these specific challenges a period of review and  possible revisions would follow, consistent with the regulations of the Council. It has been  agreed, therefore, that an Independent Review Team will shortly begin this work and present a  report for discussion with relevant stakeholders.,” he said.

He said even though he was satisfied with the manner in which CXC had conducted the 2020 exams in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the issues highlighted could not be ignored.

“Management at CXC has been impressive in the delivery of the July 2020 regional examinations within the context of the COVID-19 logistics nightmare, and crippling global doubt about revised examinations systems and procedures. I commend the team at CXC for their effort to serve the best they can –
the people of our region.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies admitted that CXC could not turn a blind eye to the disquiet of students.

“Concerns raised in the public domain with respect to the efficacy of procedures and systems used by the CXC in its computation and declaration of student performance data are of great importance to the organization,” he noted.

“It is understood that while there might be policy and technical issues to be addressed immediately, the maintenance of public trust going forward is paramount,” Sir Hilary said in a statement. He said the Registrar, Dr Wayne Wesley, and his team have met with distinguished regional Ministers of Education in order to discuss these concerns and identify the underlying causes with a view to moving forward and providing clarity to our stakeholders and enhanced support.

“CXC is satisfied that Ministers have received explanations for its positions in light of the public discourse. It is understood that while there might be policy and technical issues to be addressed immediately, the maintenance of public trust going forward is paramount,” Sir Hilary maintained.

The CXC Chairman said talks would continue with the Ministries of Education, but he echoed the position that the regional examination body has taken ever since region-wide concerns were raised- only official reports would be investigated.  “There will be ongoing dialogue with regional Ministries of Education based upon the official gathering of data relevant to all ventilated concerns. Each and every formally reported case will be reviewed and where remedies are required they will be applied,” he said.

Students in Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago have complained bitterly that their grades for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination are poorer than expected due to a number of alleged discrepancies.

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