Carib Scope

分类： education

  • Resultaten leerjaar 10 verbeteren, grote uitdagingen onderwijs nieuw schooljaar

    Resultaten leerjaar 10 verbeteren, grote uitdagingen onderwijs nieuw schooljaar

    August 19, 2026 — Suriname’s Ministry of Education, Science and Culture has announced a notable improvement in national 10th grade examination pass rates, even as Education Minister Dirk Currie acknowledges persistent gaps between public and private institutions and pressing infrastructure and reform priorities ahead of the upcoming 2026-2027 academic year.

    The national pass rate for 10th grade learners climbed 4.7 percentage points this year, rising from 56.7% recorded in 2025 to 61.4% in 2026. While Currie calls this upward trend a positive development, he remains unsatisfied with overall performance, pointing to a significant gap in outcomes between the country’s public and private education sectors. He noted that private schools, which regularly outperform their public counterparts, employ teachers trained entirely within Suriname’s mainstream public education system, a fact that underscores the avoidable nature of the outcome gap. Though Currie acknowledges private schools hold an inherent advantage in their ability to select incoming students, he stresses there should be no major disparity in quality or pass rates between the two sectors, and that all learners in public education deserve access to high-quality learning opportunities.

    The release of this year’s results was not without disruption. A technical failure in the computer software used to process examination scores led to incorrect initial outputs when results were first scheduled for publication last Friday. To address the issue, the ministry opted to stagger the release: schools that had already completed internal leader verification and final approval from the Examinations Bureau were allowed to publish results immediately, with 39 schools able to share scores on Friday. Results for all remaining schools were finalized and released by Tuesday morning, bringing the final national pass rate to its confirmed 61.4% figure. Detailed results broken down by district and individual school will be published publicly by the ministry at a later date.

    Beyond examination outcomes, the ministry faces multiple urgent challenges as it prepares for the new school year, starting with major infrastructure upgrades across the country. At the request of Vice President Gregory Rusland, the ministry presented an overview of anticipated bottlenecks for the 2026-2027 school opening to government leaders on Monday. A total of 61 public schools have been identified as requiring major renovations, with additional classroom construction needed at several sites. Preparatory work has advanced far enough for 31 of these schools to move into the public tendering process, but Minister Currie warned that actual construction will not begin for some time, forcing the ministry to pursue temporary solutions to keep classes on track.

    Proposed temporary measures include converting shipping containers into makeshift temporary classrooms and negotiating shared use of underutilized space at nearby schools. Currie noted that the shared campus option could create additional pressure on student and staff transportation networks, however. Members of parliament have called for greater transparency around the infrastructure program: Parliamentarian Sapoen has requested the full list of 61 schools set for renovation be shared with the National Assembly (DNA) to allow for legislative oversight of the work, and also raised urgent concerns about unsafe conditions at two specific schools — Vredenburg School and a campus on Malangweg — where structurally risky sections of existing buildings still await demolition.

    Two major sector reforms are also moving forward in advance of the new school year, starting with changes to vocational education. Minister Currie has already held consultations with relevant labor unions and President Jennifer Simons centered on the possible reintroduction of a specific specialized track within the country’s vocational education system. Before a final decision is made, Currie plans to consult with national industry leaders to ensure any adjusted vocational curriculum aligns with current employer labor market needs. Those industry consultations are scheduled to conclude by Wednesday, with a final public decision expected by Thursday. Other ongoing vocational education policy questions will be discussed with unions in greater detail the following week.

    The minister also highlighted a pressing gap in special education access that the ministry is working to address. Currie’s core policy guiding principle is that no learner should be left behind in the national education system, but currently, many specialized special education services are only offered by private institutions, with no comparable public alternatives. This means that household income often determines whether a child can access the specialized support and learning they need. To close this gap, the ministry is currently exploring options to place learners from low-income households that cannot afford private special education tuition at existing specialized institutions, ensuring access regardless of family financial means.

    Currie emphasized that all ongoing upgrades and policy changes are part of broader preparations for the 2026-2027 school year, with two core priorities: improving learning outcomes across all sectors, and ensuring all students have access to safe, functional school facilities.

  • UWI medical alumni group to support students at Cave Hill

    UWI medical alumni group to support students at Cave Hill

    After lying dormant for roughly 15 years, the Barbados branch of the University of the West Indies Medical Alumni Association (UWIMAA) has formally restarted operations, launching a multi-pronged partnership with the UWI Cave Hill Faculty of Medical Sciences to uplift current students and strengthen ties between graduates and the institution.

    Under the formal agreement reached between the revived alumni chapter and the medical faculty, two key initiatives are already moving forward: financial support for renovations to student spaces at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and a formal mentorship program for clinical students.

    Dean Dr. Damian Cohall of the Faculty of Medical Sciences explained the terms of the partnership in an interview with Barbados TODAY, noting that the collaborative arrangement builds on longstanding mutual goodwill. “As partners, I negotiated with Dr Peter Adams, who is the president of the local chapter, that our accommodation and our hospitality could be reciprocated with them providing some assistance to our students,” Cohall said.

    The first concrete contribution from the chapter is funding to upgrade the student lounge that serves medical students based at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Beyond infrastructure improvements, chapter members have also volunteered their professional time to serve as mentors for clinical-phase students, who gain hands-on experience working with patients during this stage of their training. Cohall emphasized that the faculty is deeply grateful for the alumni group’s renewed commitment. “We are certainly appreciative of their efforts,” he added.

    For Professor Peter Adams, a retired former dean of the medical faculty who now leads the revived Barbados chapter, growing the organization’s membership is the top immediate priority. A larger, more engaged network of graduates will expand the chapter’s capacity to support the school and its students over the long term, Adams explained.

    “I would like to increase our membership and to make sure that our reunion events and meet and mingle are well sustained,” Adams said. “Once we achieve that – because, remember, we are resuscitating – once we can keep this going, then we will be able to interact with the medical school – which we are doing – on a consistent basis, so we might be able to help refurbish some of the things they need, do mentoring and working.”

    A core part of the chapter’s mission is sustaining an active link between practicing medical graduates, the medical school, and current trainees, Adams noted. Beyond facility upgrades and mentorship, this connected network can also strengthen the institution’s reputation, as successful graduates showcase the quality of training they received at UWI.

    “We will keep a link between the graduates, the medical school and medical students to strengthen those bonds,” Adams said. “The alumni can help the medical school by providing career guidance for students and mentorship for students, which is always important. So, we are working on those two things. We can enhance the reputation of the medical school, just through a network of successful graduates.”

    Adams added that the partnership also opens the door for longer-term impact: the alumni network could help raise the profile of the medical school among local primary and secondary students, highlighting career pathways in medicine that many young people may not otherwise consider. Graduates can also share on-the-ground professional perspectives to help shape the medical school’s programs and practices, ensuring training stays aligned with real-world needs.

    Alongside Adams, the revived chapter’s newly installed executive leadership team includes Professor Margaret Anne St. John as vice-president, Dr. Sonita Alexander as secretary, Dr. Donna Markle as assistant secretary, Dr. Tania Whitby-Best as treasurer, and Drs. Lynn-Marie Lovell and Joanne Paul-Charles as floor members. The group will now focus on growing membership, launching the agreed-upon student support initiatives, and laying the groundwork for sustained long-term engagement with the Cave Hill campus.

  • CXC Plans Digital Wallet for Students’ Certificates

    CXC Plans Digital Wallet for Students’ Certificates

    The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) is advancing its digital transformation of educational assessment with a planned new initiative: a secure digital wallet designed to let students and test-takers store, access, and share their earned CXC credentials electronically with third parties. Details of the upcoming tool were shared by Dr. Nicole Manning, CXC Director of Operations, during the official publication of the May-June 2026 examination cycle results, which took place in Anguilla.

    Unlike traditional paper-based certificates that can be lost, damaged, or slow to share, the upcoming digital platform will centralize all of a candidate’s CXC qualifications in one encrypted digital space. This streamlined system will cut down on wait times and administrative friction for candidates looking to share their academic and professional credentials with universities, hiring managers, and other accepting institutions. Manning confirmed the project in a statement during the event, noting “In the future, we’re going to have a wallet. Candidates can have all their certificates in their wallet, so you can actually share that.”

    To date, CXC has not announced a specific timeline for the public launch of the digital wallet, but Manning confirmed that the initiative will roll out first in a pilot phase in another Caribbean territory before wider distribution. When fully implemented, the wallet is expected to support CXC’s full expanding portfolio of academic and vocational qualifications. This includes the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQ), associate degrees, diplomas, and statements of completed occupational competence.

    The announcement of the digital wallet came alongside new data showing growing candidate interest in vocational certification through CXC in 2026. A total of 4,977 candidates registered for vocational qualifications across 37 distinct occupational areas this year, marking a notable increase from 2025, when just 3,719 candidates participated across 36 occupational areas. Of the 2026 CVQ candidates, 845 completed all requirements to earn full vocational qualifications, while an additional 985 received official statements of competence acknowledging the specific skilled modules they completed.

    This new digital credential wallet is a core component of CXC’s broader organizational shift toward fully integrated digital education and assessment services. In recent years, the council has already prioritized expanding electronic exam administration and building robust, secure verification systems that allow employers and educational institutions to confirm the authenticity of CXC-issued credentials quickly. While the overall plan has been shared publicly, CXC has not yet released key logistical and technical details: the council has not confirmed how candidates will access the wallet, what encryption and security protocols will be implemented to protect sensitive credential data, or whether qualifications earned before the platform’s launch will be migrated to the new digital system.

  • YEEP Records 96.5% Overall Pass Rate in CSEC and CAPE Examinations

    YEEP Records 96.5% Overall Pass Rate in CSEC and CAPE Examinations

    The Youth Education and Empowerment Programme (YEEP), a leading education-focused initiative designed to support secondary and post-secondary learners, has announced strong results from the 2026 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), posting an impressive 96.5% overall pass rate among its participating students.

    A total of 196 candidates from the programme sat examinations across 13 different core and elective subject areas this year. Of these participants, nine students achieved a perfect 100% pass rate across all of the examinations they attempted, standing out as top performers in the YEEP cohort.

    Breakdowns of results by subject show high pass rates across most tested areas: 91% of YEEP students earned passing grades in Mathematics, 93% passed Physical Education, and 85% secured passing marks in Social Studies. Other unlisted subjects posted even higher pass rates that contributed to the programme’s strong overall outcome.

    This year’s result marks a significant milestone for the initiative, continuing a consistent pattern of year-on-year improvement in student performance. In 2025, YEEP reported an 85% overall pass rate across the same examinations, up from 80% recorded in 2024. The latest jump of more than 11 percentage points over the past two years signals growing effectiveness of YEEP’s support models for students preparing for these high-stakes regional credentialing examinations.

  • Boys Continue to Fall Behind Girls at CSEC and CAPE Levels

    Boys Continue to Fall Behind Girls at CSEC and CAPE Levels

    A newly released analysis of 2026 Caribbean regional examination data has confirmed a steadily widening gender participation gap across the education system, with male enrollment dropping sharply as students progress from early secondary schooling to advanced post-secondary assessments.

    Data published by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) lays bare the scale of the disparity: for the 2026 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), the highest-level assessment offered by the council, women made up 62 percent of all registered candidates, leaving men accounting for just 38 percent of the total test-taking pool. At the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level, a qualification for students completing upper secondary school, the gap remains significant, with women representing 59 percent of candidates and men 41 percent.

    Dr. Nicole Manning, CXC’s Director of Operations, outlined these findings during the official launch of the May–June 2026 examination results hosted in Anguilla on Tuesday. She emphasized that the imbalance is not present at the earliest stages of education: enrollment at the primary level remains nearly equal between boys and girls, and even in the first three years of secondary school, the divide remains narrow. For the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC), which is typically taken by early secondary students, men actually hold a slight advantage, making up 52 percent of candidates compared to 48 percent for women.

    This demographic breakdown confirms that the gender gap emerges and expands at later stages of the Caribbean education pipeline. Fewer boys continue their academic careers through upper secondary school and on to the advanced CAPE assessments required for university admission. Manning summed up the trend, noting “It gets less and less as you go higher.”

    CXC has not pinpointed a single root cause for the shrinking male participation in advanced examinations, but the council is calling for urgent, coordinated action across the region’s education sector. Manning stressed that the ongoing trend demands targeted attention from education authorities across all Caribbean territories, and urged educators and policymakers to collaborate on two key goals: first, conducting a deeper, evidence-based investigation into the underlying factors driving male disengagement from advanced education, and second, implementing targeted strategies to keep boys invested in academic study as they progress through secondary school.

    It is important to note that the published data only reflects the proportion of male and female candidates registered for the assessments, and does not include a comparison of pass or performance rates between the two groups.

  • AI Misuse Recorded in CXC Examinations for the First Time

    AI Misuse Recorded in CXC Examinations for the First Time

    For the first time in its history, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has formally recorded misuse of artificial intelligence as an official examination irregularity, marking an uncharted new challenge to safeguarding the fairness and credibility of regional secondary and post-secondary assessments. The revelation was made public this week by CXC Director of Operations Dr. Nicole Manning during the official launch of the May-June 2026 examination results, held in Anguilla on Tuesday. Describing the development as a groundbreaking shift in exam misconduct trends, Manning emphasized that the classification of AI misuse as a formal irregularity has never occurred in any prior exam cycle. While unauthorized electronic devices remain the most prevalent form of rule-breaking documented by the council, followed by candidate collusion and the possession of prohibited study materials, AI-facilitated cheating has now emerged as a rapidly growing concern. Collusion, which encompasses unauthorized collaboration between test-takers and illicit sharing of answers during assessments, and the use of forbidden materials or devices both allow students to access exam content outside the bounds of official testing rules, just as improperly used generative AI can generate full answers that are not the candidate’s own work. Overall, the CXC documented 128 confirmed examination irregularities across the 2026 May-June exam cycle, a sharp increase from the 80 cases recorded in the prior equivalent testing period. Manning added that a subset of candidates have repeated misconduct across multiple different examinations, compounding integrity risks for the region’s assessment system. Students found guilty of confirmed examination irregularities face serious penalties, ranging from cancellation of their exam grades to permanent disqualification from future CXC assessments. The first formal recording of AI misuse comes at a time when education institutions and testing bodies across the Caribbean are navigating the rapid expansion of accessible generative AI tools. While this technology offers tangible benefits for supporting personalized learning and streamlining instructional tasks, it has also sparked widespread alarm over its potential to enable cheating, erode long-held norms of academic integrity, threaten student privacy, and make it far more difficult to verify that submitted work is actually the product of a candidate’s own knowledge and effort. In response to this evolving challenge, Manning confirmed that the CXC has already proactively developed formal standards and comprehensive guidelines designed to govern responsible AI use within education and formal assessment contexts. The council has distributed these guidance materials to all regional ministries of education, and is actively encouraging primary and secondary school leaders across the Caribbean to adopt context-appropriate institutional policies that align with the CXC framework. Beyond addressing cheating risks, Manning also issued a critical public warning to students about broader privacy hazards associated with unregulated AI use: she urged test-takers to avoid entering personally identifiable information into unvetted AI tools and unsecure online platforms, noting that careless sharing of personal data can leave students vulnerable to identity theft, data breaches, and misuse of their private information by third parties. To balance innovation and integrity, the CXC is calling on regional educators to integrate lessons about responsible AI use into their regular curricula, teaching students how to leverage the technology as a legitimate learning tool while ensuring its application never undermines the fairness and public trust that underpin the Caribbean’s regional examination system.

  • Teachers Demand Help with Annual Classroom Expenses

    Teachers Demand Help with Annual Classroom Expenses

    As the 2026 back-to-school season approaches, educators across Belize are escalating a long-running campaign for financial support to cover mandatory classroom costs, with the nation’s largest teachers’ union drawing a clear line in the sand: this will be the final year teachers dip into their own pockets to stock their classrooms.\n\nFor decades, Belizean teachers have borne the brunt of uncompensated classroom expenses, purchasing everything from basic stationery and textbooks to classroom decor and learning aids out of their personal salaries ahead of each new academic year. Now, Nadia Caliz, president of the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU), has amplified these widespread grievances, turning a years-long request into an official demand from the national government.\n\nIn a public address to union members, Caliz emphasized that the BNTU has repeatedly pushed for the introduction of a dedicated annual resource allowance for all active classroom teachers, and pointed to successful policy precedents across the Caribbean to back the union’s campaign. “When our colleagues from Grenada presented their program at the recent Caribbean Union of Teachers Executive Meeting, they outlined how their national government provides every teacher with a targeted grant every August to cover the cost of classroom materials and learning resources,” Caliz explained. “St. Lucia has also put this policy in place, and there is no reason Belize cannot follow suit.”\n\nCaliz made a direct promise to the nation’s educators that 2026 will mark the end of self-funded classroom preparation: “This is the last September, and I am saying this, the last time, our educators will be going into their pockets to provide these resources. As your union leadership, we understand the burden, and we are committed to securing this allowance for you.”\n\nFor years, the BNTU has raised this issue with the Briceño administration, and while government officials have acknowledged the request, no concrete policy or budget allocation has been approved to date. Caliz questioned whether the government has truly prioritized educators’ needs, noting “They have listened, but did they truly hear us?”\n\nThe core question now hanging over the negotiations is whether the Briceño administration can reallocate funds within its existing national annual budget to create space for the new resource allowance program. As schools prepare to open for the 2026-2027 academic year, all eyes are on the Belizean government to respond to the union’s final demand.\n\nThis report is adapted from a transcribed broadcast of evening television news from Belize.

  • Uniform Donation Brings Back-to-School Relief at Stella Maris

    Uniform Donation Brings Back-to-School Relief at Stella Maris

    As the 2026 back-to-school season approaches, students across Belize are preparing to return to classrooms, but for low-income families, the cumulative cost of textbooks, school supplies, and mandatory uniforms creates a significant financial strain. For the 147 students of Stella Maris School, however, one of these heavy burdens has been lifted entirely thanks to a cross-border community partnership forged through Belize City’s new sister-city relationship with Miramar, Florida.

    The initiative is led by Bridge 501, a nonprofit organization composed of members of the Belizean diaspora based in the United States. What began as a pledge to provide one free uniform per student quickly expanded: overwhelming outpouring of local community support in Miramar allowed the group to double its original commitment, delivering two uniforms for every child at the school.

    Belize City Councilor Kaya Cattouse explained that the project grew out of a recent celebratory Belize Day event held to mark the newly formalized sister-city agreement between Belize City and Miramar. Recognizing that school uniforms rank among the costliest back-to-school expenses for Belizean families, stakeholders quickly aligned to address the unmet need at Stella Maris, where a large share of the student body comes from economically vulnerable households.

    For parents like Jeslyn Bennett, the timely donation has been life-changing. “It’s not easy being a parent trying to cover uniform costs for our kids,” Bennett shared. “When I heard we would receive two uniforms per child, I cried. It’s such an incredibly generous gesture – I still get goosebumps thinking about it.”

    Stella Maris principal Doreth Pascasio-Griffith emphasized that the impact of this donation extends far beyond immediate financial relief. For many of the school’s students who have long struggled to afford proper, intact uniforms, wearing clean, matching new clothing does more than meet the school’s dress code requirement: it transforms their entire experience of attending class.

    “Most of our kids come from households with significant financial need, and for too long, many have had to come to school in tattered, worn-out clothing,” Pascasio-Griffith said. “When you don’t have proper clothes, it’s hard to feel confident about being at school. We wanted our students to come to class properly dressed, just like students at any other top school in Belize. This donation gives them that chance.”

    Beyond tangible financial support, the principal noted that the new uniforms foster a critical sense of belonging and self-worth among students, reinforcing that their education and well-being matter to people across borders. The donation has removed a major barrier to consistent school attendance and academic engagement, setting the entire student body up for a successful, confident start to the 2026-2027 academic year.

  • CXC records more than 35 000 no-shows across CAPE, CSEC exams

    CXC records more than 35 000 no-shows across CAPE, CSEC exams

    The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), the regional body overseeing secondary and pre-university standardized assessments across the Caribbean, has disclosed a set of unprecedented and growing challenges impacting its 2025 exam cycle, marking the first documented case of artificial technology misuse during official assessments alongside soaring candidate absenteeism and a sharp uptick in academic misconduct. During a regional performance briefing hosted in Anguilla, CXC Director of Operations Dr. Nicole Manning outlined the three most pervasive integrity violations recorded in this year’s exams, topped by the use of unauthorized electronic devices, candidate collusion, possession of unauthorized exam materials, and the groundbreaking new infraction: intentional misuse of artificial intelligence to gain unfair advantage during assessments. “This is a completely new development for us – we have never recorded confirmed AI misuse in our exams before now,” Dr. Manning stated. To address this emerging threat to academic integrity, CXC has already adapted an internationally recognized AI assessment framework to guide regional secondary and post-secondary institutions in establishing clear, enforceable standards for responsible technology use during high-stakes testing. Dr. Manning also issued a critical public warning to students about the hidden risks of oversharing sensitive information with AI platforms, advising: “To all students: do not input your personal identifiable information into any AI tool or online platform. Sharing this data puts your identity and personal security at severe risk.” Candidates caught violating exam integrity rules face severe penalties, ranging from disqualification of their entire exam results to a permanent ban from future CXC assessment cycles. Alongside new AI-related challenges, the 2025 exam cycle saw a crisis of absenteeism that has raised serious concerns across regional education systems. Official CXC data shows that 3,534 registered candidates missed this year’s pre-university Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), while the issue was far more acute at the secondary education level, where 32,403 registered students failed to appear for their Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams. Dr. Manning emphasized that exam absenteeism automatically eliminates a candidate’s chance to earn a formal qualification, as missing a core assessment component means no final grade can be issued. “Candidates who skip their exams lose the opportunity entirely, no exceptions,” she explained. “Surveys of absent candidates show many stay away because they feel unprepared, but that is never a valid reason to miss an exam. Just try – nothing beats a trial, and any attempt is better than walking away from the opportunity.” Overall reported exam irregularities jumped 60% year-over-year, rising from 80 confirmed cases in the previous assessment cycle to 128 in 2025. Common additional infractions beyond integrity violations included disruptive behavior in exam halls and unauthorized possession of study notes. Another parallel crisis has emerged in school-based assessment (SBA) requirements, which count toward a candidate’s final grade, with growing rates of non-submission. Dr. Manning explained that non-submissions stem from two root causes: some school administrative centers fail to submit completed student projects on time, while other candidates do not complete the required coursework at all. With non-submission rates climbing steadily, Dr. Manning called on regional education ministries to intervene, helping students understand that skipping any required assessment component results in an ungraded, non-qualifying result. Beyond assessment integrity and absenteeism, CXC also highlighted a widening gender participation gap that becomes more pronounced as students progress through the Caribbean education system. While male and female enrollment is evenly split at the primary school level, male participation drops sharply by the time students reach secondary and post-secondary level exams. For the 2025 CAPE exams, females made up 62% of all registered candidates, compared to just 38% male participation. At the CSEC level, females account for 59% of candidates, with males making up the remaining 41%. Calling for a coordinated regional response to close the gap, Dr. Manning noted: “This disparity has developed over time, and as a regional education community, we must work together to identify solutions that ensure the 50/50 gender balance we see at primary school is maintained as students move into secondary and post-secondary education. We have to support all our children to stay in school and complete their qualifications.” Despite the range of challenges facing the 2025 assessment cycle, CXC also reported notable administrative and accessibility progress across the region. The organization expanded support for students with special educational needs, rolling out customized testing provisions including extra writing time, braille exam papers, and on-site readers across 16 CXC territories for CSEC exams and eight countries for CAPE. CXC also highlighted the success of its emergency response protocols following the impact of a severe Category 5 hurricane that struck Jamaica in October 2025. By implementing a modified assessment pathway for affected exam centers in western Jamaica, the organization ensured that candidates who lost homes and personal property were not denied the opportunity to sit their exams. Finally, CXC recognized Anguilla for its leadership in advancing digital assessment across the region, noting the successful rollout of a new hybrid e-assessment format for CSEC exams. The new model, which allows candidates to view exam questions on screen while writing their answers in traditional physical booklets, eases the transition to full digital testing while preserving uniform regional assessment standards.

  • CXC launches modular qualification framework

    CXC launches modular qualification framework

    In a landmark ceremony held in Anguilla during the release of the May/June Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) results, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) officially launched the Caribbean Targeted Education Certificate (CTEC), a groundbreaking modular qualification framework. The launch followed the board of governors’ approval after a pilot program in mathematics, long a historically challenging subject for regional students, delivered exceptional results that far outstripped traditional assessment outcomes.

    For decades, mathematics has presented a persistent barrier to Caribbean secondary students: under the traditional all-or-nothing assessment model, only around one-third of test-takers across the region earned passing grades on a single attempt. This outdated system left hundreds of thousands of young people with no formal recognition for the partial knowledge and skills they had gained over years of study, even when they had mastered significant portions of the syllabus. The CTEC framework addresses this flaw by restructuring the full traditional syllabus into smaller, focused, individual learning modules that allow students to progress and earn certification incrementally.

    Under the new system, each completed module earns learners a portable, stackable credential that is banked toward a full final qualification. If unforeseen life circumstances interrupt a student’s educational journey, they leave with verified certification for the skills they have already mastered, rather than walking away with no formal recognition. Critically, CXC leaders emphasize that the modular model retains the same rigorous academic standards as the original qualification, simply breaking content into more manageable, assessable stages.

    The initial pilot of CTEC Mathematics Module 1 included 2,535 candidates across 15 Caribbean territories and 42 testing centers, spanning nations and territories including Barbados, Jamaica, Belize, the Cayman Islands, and host nation Anguilla. Impressively, 88 percent of participating pilot candidates earned acceptable grades, with only one test-taker across the entire region receiving the lowest possible grade tier. CXC Registrar and CEO Dr. Wayne Wesley noted that this outcome marks a dramatic reversal of longstanding outcomes for mathematics assessment, where barely one in three students have succeeded in traditional single-sitting exams for generations.

    Beyond standalone pilot participants, CXC mapped CTEC Module 1 competencies to the existing standard CSEC mathematics syllabus, allowing nearly 35,000 additional candidates from the May/June standard exam sitting to automatically receive the CTEC Mathematics Module 1 credential. In total, almost 70,000 Caribbean students now hold Module 1 certification through this combined evaluation approach. Dr. Wesley highlighted that this initiative has already re-engaged tens of thousands of students who would otherwise have received no recognition for their progress, reigniting their motivation to continue their education.

    Dr. Wesley emphasized that a 20th-century assessment model was never designed to meet the needs of 21st-century learners, and that CTEC represents a learner-centered redesign that maintains full academic rigor. He called on regional governments and education policymakers to integrate the CTEC modular framework into national education strategies, technical and vocational training programs, and second-chance learning initiatives, noting that verified module credentials make tangible human capital visible to employers and strengthen regional economies.

    The official CTEC emblem was jointly unveiled by Dr. Wesley and Anguilla’s Minister of Social Development and Education Shellya Rogers-Webster, marking the formal integration of the new modular system into CXC’s permanent portfolio of qualifications. Students accessing the CXC student portal will now see their new CTEC credentials displayed alongside their traditional examination results, creating a more comprehensive record of their academic progress and skills.