The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) officially launched a new literacy and numeracy standard designed to combat a growing trend of poor student performance in core subject areas.
During a regional press conference held last week in Kingston, Jamaica, the document serves as a structured guide for instruction and learning processes specifically targeting secondary school students from Forms 1 through 3 across the Caribbean region. Nolette Leslie-Yearde, CXC’s Senior Manager for Qualifications Management, explained that the decision to focus on the lower secondary level was deliberate.
She stated: “While educators maintain a clear profile of students as they exit primary school, a significant data gap often emerges as those students transition into the secondary system.” Leslie-Yearde (pic) noted that these new standards are intended to serve as a blueprint for education officials to design tailored interventions that address specific student needs.
Additionally, the standards will support the development of diagnostic assessments used to establish baseline performance levels for literacy and numeracy. In addition to academic standards, CXC is introducing a new regional disaster and business recovery protocol.
This initiative outlines specific procedures to assist participating states impacted by natural disasters. CXC Registrar Dr. Wayne Wesley confirmed that the protocol is being rolled out in Jamaica immediately in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. The framework is designed to strengthen the Council’s ability to ensure the continuity of examinations and operations in affected territories.
The recovery protocol follows a six-step process, beginning with an official statement of support and the initiation of a response by CXC. The Council then coordinates directly with Ministries of Education to assess recovery efforts and consults with a broad range of stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and employers.
Following these consultations, CXC management drafts recommendations for approval by the council’s board. For candidates currently affected in Jamaica, Dr. Wesley confirmed that several special provisions have already been approved.
These measures include modifications and adjustments to School-Based Assessments (SBAs) and an extension of the submission timeline for those most affected. Furthermore, CXC has accommodated late registration for students in impacted schools without requiring the payment of late fees.
