Suspension of four subjects: CXC to meet education ministers

The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), reeling from public outcry after a document was leaked showing it intended to suspend four subjects, including Agricultural Science (Double Award) has said it will meet education ministers to determine the way forward.

In a statement Wednesday, CXC said it was aware of the concerns being expressed by valued stakeholders, based on what it said was the “premature release of correspondence addressed to the Ministries of Education concerning syllabus suspension.”

It was recently reported that CXC was looking at scrapping four subjects, namely Agricultural Science (the double award), Mechanical Engineering Technology, Green Engineering, and Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

In its statement, CXC said the premature publication of its intention was “regrettable” but said it understood that the information “would have caused anxiety among key stakeholder groups.”

It therefore took the decision to meet with the Ministers of Education in the Caribbean and will provide a full update to the public, through a press release, thereafter.

CXC said it assures valued stakeholders that the requisite actions will be taken in the best interest of all.

CXC was established by member nations of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in 1972 but now works in other countries which are not full members of CARICOM.

It provides syllabuses, examinations and certificates to children of the region.

The 16 participating countries are: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos Islands.