CXC to Help Develop Assessments or Sixth form Pathways

The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) will be assisting the Ministry of Education and Youth in the development of assessments for the Sixth Form Pathways programme.

The disclosure was made by portfolio Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams, during her address at the CXC’s Employee Appreciation Awards ceremony on December 16 at the Courtleigh Hotel, Kingston.

“I continue to be just delighted when I hear of the plans that you have, plans especially with our Sixth Form Pathways programme, to help us in terms of creating CXC exams for those students and I know that it will be really welcome when that happens,” she said.

The Ministry implemented the Sixth Form Pathways as a seven-year high school programme, that allows students who complete grade 11 to pursue an additional two-year course of study with alternative opportunitie, alongside the traditional sixth form curriculum.

It is estimated that 24,238 students are registered under the programme.

Minister Williams commended the Council for its innovation in adapting to various challenges.

She noted that it is a collaborative effort involving industry professionals, parents, and students to make improvements, which will enable the Council to stay relevant in a fast-shifting world, and ensure that students are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for the competitive labour market.

Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, CXC, Dr. Wayne Wesley, in his remarks, said that the COVID-19 pandemic has taught the Council valuable lessons, and the entity is now engaged in revamping its qualification management structure, and reengineering its assessment and recognition framework to be more responsive to the needs of the education system.

He said that the entity recognises that it has to make changes to remain relevant to the times.

He hailed the Sixth Form Pathways as a commendable programme, noting that “CXC is putting systems in place to respond to that new dimension.”