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By Kevon Browne
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC®) released on 20 August 2024 the results for the May-June 2024 Caribbean Advanced Level Examination (CAPE), Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Secondary Level Certificate of Competence (CCSLC) examinations.
CXC® Registrar and CEO Dr Wayne Wesley expressed concern about it when the past five years’ maths and English results were posted online.
“When you look back at the English grades over that period, the average for English was about 79-80%, but the average for maths was about 55-59%. In fact, if we really apply strictly across the whole group, you’re actually about 44%. This year, the maths grades were slightly lower than last year.
“But for me, when we analysed it further to five subjects or more, we found a certain proportion, about 6 per cent of the people who signed up for the exam. When we pointed that out and explored it further, we found that when we restricted it to five subjects including maths and English, that proportion dropped to 4.9 per cent.”
Dr. Wesley explained some of the impacts that poor performance in math and English may have on students across the district.
“That tells me, or it tells us, that we are losing an average of almost 11,500 students every year from 2018 to now who are not fully enrolled in university because university requires math and English. Even if there are 11,500 students who are underemployed because without math and English, employers will pay less. Some students need to be re-employed. In other words, you have to do the course again. Some students are not able to reach their full potential, and most importantly, this has a negative impact on the economic competitiveness of the region because there are fewer students who can drive the innovation and develop the critical thinking and problem-solving attitudes needed to develop the economy.
“So we are in a very challenging period and we need to focus more on maths and English. Let’s make sure students leave the school system; if they don’t have anything else, let’s make sure they have numeracy and literacy skills.”
CXC has begun addressing the region’s math illiteracy and illiteracy rates by commissioning a team to take targeted interventions.
“To that end, the Caribbean Examinations Council has commissioned a team to begin developing literacy and numeracy standards that will be integrated with artificial intelligence so that we can design targeted interventions around the development areas and opportunities for these examinees. How will they acquire skills? This particular project will complement what is happening in the education system.
“Now, this is not a panacea, but I think as an examination body we need to assist the system, the ecosystem, so it’s not just the Ministry of Education, it’s not just the Caribbean Examinations Council, it’s not just teachers, it’s not just education officials, it’s not just government, it’s not just parents, it’s not just the community. We all have to sit down together and figure out how to correct this serious problem that is affecting the development of human capital in the region.”
Presenting the results, Dr Nicole Manning, director of operations for the exam service, said other subjects that saw drops in grades were principles of accounting, integrated science, information technology, French and chemistry.
However, performance improved compared to 2023 in Caribbean history, social studies, physics, office management, and human and social biology.
The registrar said that in addition to advancing its work in mathematics and English, CXC is also exploring ways to ensure digital literacy and is working on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into future courses.
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