CXC meets with regional education ministers regarding suspension of several subjects | RJR News

By Kimone Witter

The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) will meet with education ministers across the region next week to discuss concerns over the suspension of the curriculum for four technical subjects.

The CXC says the public will be informed of the outcome of the meeting, scheduled for June 4 at 10 a.m.

Addressing the press conference following the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning, Education Minister Fayval Williams said Jamaica had reiterated to the examining board the importance of ongoing certification of subjects.

“Having clearly noted the concerns of our school principals and other concerned Jamaicans, we will be meeting with CXC and other regional education ministers to address the concerns regarding the recruitment or suspension policy. CXC has also indicated that it wishes to address critical matters relating to the administration and release of results for the May and June 2024 examinations,” she explained.

Minister Williams said the matter would also be referred to a CARICOM committee.

“I would also like to point out that other fellow education ministers across the Caribbean are very concerned about this hiring decision. And as a body, we have decided to refer the matter to the Council for Human and Social Development, a CARICOM committee tasked with promoting and developing coordinated policies and programs,” she announced.

Since the premature publication of the correspondence addressed to the Ministers of Education, there has been unrest among key interest groups, including in Jamaica.

CXC announced that due to low enrollment, it will no longer offer certificates in Environmental Engineering, Agricultural Sciences (Dual Award), Mechanical Engineering and Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

However, Minister Williams believes that the decision as to whether the CXC should continue to offer certifications in the subjects concerned should be left to the countries in the region.

She made this claim when asked whether alternative arrangements would be made if the decision to suspend the four subjects remained in place.

“We recognise that continuing these courses may incur additional costs for the government, but ultimately I know the decision will be to continue these courses,” she insisted.

Ms Williams announced that at a meeting of headteachers on May 21, it was unanimously decided that the subjects should remain in the curriculum.

She said there would be further discussions with school leaders to provide additional support in further developing science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) education policies.