Students sit CSEC and CAPE exams

The Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) began today across the country under stringent COVID-19 guidelines.

Minister of Education Nicolette Henry and the Ministry of Education (MoE) recognised the ardent efforts of the students, teachers, parents and guardians for their preparation to facilitate the sitting of the examinations.

During a Zoom engagement with students from across the country today, Minister of Henry advised them not to be distracted and to give of their best for the examinations.

The Education Minister noted that the examinations are being written at an unprecedented and challenging time and yet students, teachers and other stakeholders have exhibited great resilience and adaptability to ensure maximum preparation for the examinations.

Further, Minister Henry underscored the importance of the exams and reminded the students that they (CSEC and CAPE) will determine students’ future course of action and for many of the students their career choice.

The two exams are being written from July 13- August 4 and July 13- 31 respectively. For CSEC there are 168 centres with 11,998 students registered to write that exam while for CAPE 851 candidates are registered to write at 15 centres across the country.

The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) took a decision to administer the examinations in a different format this year owing to the Coronavirus pandemic affecting countries globally.

Grades will now be awarded utilizing the moderated SBAs and Paper One (1). Today CAPE students are writing French Units one (1) and Two (2) Paper Four (4) and the orals for the said exam; while CSEC students are writing French Paper two (2) and three (3) – Orals.

Students, teachers and persons permitted to be in the school compound are required to wear a face mask at all times. Additionally, hand washing and sanitizing must be done at the entrance of the school.

The students are required to be two meters or six feet apart from each other at all times. Playing and gathering are prohibited and the MoE has prohibited vending outside schools to ensure the safety and wellness of everyone.

Temperature testing is also mandatory and Education Officers will be visiting schools across the country to ensure that there is full compliance with the order. Therefore all preventive measures are implemented and will be monitored throughout the examination. (Extracted and modified from Ministry of Education’s Public Relations Department)