Education Ministry discussing relief strategies for students preparing to sit external exams

The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information is in discussions with administrators of external examinations to develop relief strategies for students adversely affected by Hurricane Melissa.

Permanent Secretary, Dr Kasan Troupe, reported that the Ministry met with the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) two days ago and is scheduled to meet with City and Guilds on November 13.

“So, SBAs (School Based Assessments) – how do we treat with that now? Our practicals – how do we treat with that? And what are the options in terms of syllabus coverage and cost? All those variables are on the table. We are completing our assessments to send back to CXC, so we can have a plan for our learners who have been disrupted. We are not leaving them behind,” she said.

Troupe was addressing the launch of National Parent Month on Wednesday (November 12) at Tivoli Gardens High School in Kingston.

She explained that there are strategies that can be put in place to support students as they decide how to proceed with their examinations.

“There's always the choice to reduce the number of exams that one sits at this time given the extended time they are out or their comfort level in sitting the exam,” she said.

Regarding the National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NCTVET), which administers the National Vocational Qualification of Jamaica (NVQ-J), Troupe said a decision has already been taken to postpone the November sitting.

“There's no way we can administer an exam now, and so those students have been written to and those institutions and we will seek to hold exams in February for them if they are ready. If not, they will sit it in June,” she said.

- JIS News

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