The CXC needs to do better to plug exam leaks

THE EDITOR, Madam:

We are grateful that the children are not subjected to further stress of exam resits and grateful for the swift response and decision-making by the CARICOM ministers of education and the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) regarding this latest exam crisis.

That the innocent children are not disadvantaged and are protected should be at the forefront of all we do.

The CXC’s statement this week, however, raises many further questions and provided few answers. Those answers must be given rapidly.

The CXC assured the public that the security protocols had been revisited and strengthened after the last serious exam security breach less than a month ago. There have been several security breaches over the past several years.

We still await advice on the revised grading methodology for maths CSEC. This uncertainty is not fair on the students and the memory of 2020 grading challenges is still fresh.

Clearly, the governance structure of this ‘education ecosystem’ for CXC exam admin that Sir Hilary referenced during the 2020 grading crisis surely needs an overhaul. The evidence is clear – grading, accountability, governance, quality assurance, security, communications with stakeholders – all major aspects of operations need to be reviewed, both within CXC’s operations, and the other stakeholder institutions who administer exams, by an expert independent external regulator.

We, the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union, Barbados Union of Teachers, The Caribbean Union of Teachers, other regional education stakeholders have all championed this regulatory audit solution over the years, especially during the pandemic era.

Responsibility for exam administration and policy seems to be a constantly moving target, is it the respective ministries of education? CXC? Where does the buck stop?

The best interests of the students needs to be the centre of exam administration and the quality of communication. The CXC is the apex of our national and regional public secondary school systems. It is our indigenous exam body which has had great achievements. It must always accord with international best practice and fairness to our children should be an integral part of the culture and vision and values of CXC and wider CARICOM exam administration, as obtains internationally. Our children deserve no less consideration.

Once public trust and confidence are lost, they are very difficult to regain. Once confidence is lost, those with options will exercise them and our nation and region will be the poorer for the loss of the credibility of our education systems.

PAULA-ANNE MOORE

Parent Advocate

Spokesperson/Coordinator

The Group of

Concerned Parents, Barbados

The Caribbean Coalition

for Exam Redress