ICAR: Suspension of four CXC members harms the region

The Iyanola Council for the Advancement of Rastafari (ICAR) has called on the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) to reconsider its “dangerous decision” to suspend four subjects.

The selected subjects were Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Technology, Green Engineering and the Double Prize for Agricultural Sciences.

Referring to the double award in agricultural sciences, ICAR President Aaron Alexander said it represents a step backwards for the region given the importance of food security for small island developing States and the world.

“We urgently need to be able to feed ourselves,” Alexander said in a statement on behalf of ICAR and the Pan-African Education Committee.

The ICAR President also noted that farmers in the region are aging.

On the other issues, Alexander noted that Caricom has a ten-point plan to develop reparative justice.

He pointed out that number nine of the plan concerns technology transfer.

In this context, Alexander stressed that people in the region must be technically savvy enough to be able to use cutting-edge technologies.

“We believe that the thematic areas now suspended by the CXC are crucial to the development of our region,” Alexander explained.

He also warned that the suspension would have serious consequences and would be extremely damaging to the region.

On Wednesday, the CXC issued the following statement:

The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC®) is aware of the concerns raised by our valued stakeholders regarding the premature publication of correspondence addressed to the Ministries of Education regarding the suspension of the curriculum.

This situation is regrettable and has understandably caused concern among our key stakeholders.

To discuss the matter, CXC® has scheduled a meeting with the education ministers and will then provide the public with comprehensive information on the current situation in a press release.

CXC® assures our valued stakeholders that the necessary actions will be taken in the best interest of all.