8,000 Students to Sit New CCSLC

Some 8,000 students have registered to sit the new Caribbean examination called the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC), which is scheduled for June this year.
The announcement was made by Dr. Lucy Steward, Registrar of the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC), at the launch of the new programme on (February 7), at the Knutsford Court Hotel.
“This is a new programme and the Council is heartened by the significant number of students who are registered from across the region,” Dr. Steward said.
She explained that since 1998 the Council has been conducting studies, and consulting policy makers and educators in order to develop a secondary level programme that would meet the needs of students with a wide range of abilities.
Dr. Steward also pointed out that the need for such a programme became even more critical with the achievement of universal secondary education in CXC participating territories.
“During regional consultations, policy makers agreed that a regional programme certified by CXC will have greater currency than national certification. Also through regional co-operation, territories will be able to achieve economies of scale in areas such as syllabus development, examination preparation and administration,” said Dr. Steward.
The programme provides instructions for the development of skills, such as oral and written communication, mathematical literacy, problem solving, critical thinking, informed decision making, handling conflict and social and citizenship skills.
“There are two compulsory subjects, English and Mathematics. In order to obtain the CCSLC the student can select from several options, including technical and vocational level one programmes; Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), business and technical subjects; the creative arts, for example music certified by CXC or other recognised boards, and local programmes developed and examined in accordance with guidelines provided by CXC,” explained Dr. Steward.
She noted that the programme “provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate their talent and abilities and to experience success”.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Maria Jones said that the launch of the new examination should be seen as a milestone in the development of Jamaica’s education system.
“The Caribbean Examination Council is telling Jamaica, the region and the world, that CCSLC will be a certification of quality, which indicates that the holder has been prepared for further education, and training for entry level employment or for transition to other programmes, such as CSEC and technical vocational education and training (TVET),” said Mrs. Jones.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Senator Noel Monteith said the examination is designed to “certify the knowledge, generic competencies and attitudes and values all secondary school leavers should have attained”.
“Its aim is to merge both the technical, general and vocational subjects as well as develop certain competencies to give school leavers the best opportunity to move into the next stage of their development,” added the State Minister.
He pointed out that the CCSLC provided an alternative path to ensure that all school leavers at this level are certified.
The candidate will be awarded the CCSLC if he or she, over a period of up to three years, successfully completes a minimum of five subjects. A certificate will be awarded after a candidate achieves a minimum of Competent in five subjects within a three year period.