Jamaica’s Overseas Examination Commission (OEC) Tuesday said while the Barbados-based Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) will discontinue certification for certain subjects, no decision has been taken to remove them from the curriculum of secondary schools there.
The certifications to be discontinued are agricultural science (double award) and mechanical engineering at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination levels; as well as, electrical and electronic engineering, and technology and green engineering.
“The OEC regrets this impetuosity and informs that though CXC has provided an advisory on the discontinuation of the aforementioned subjects, a decision to remove them from the Jamaican secondary schools’ curriculum has not yet been taken,” the OEC said in a statement.
The OEC said that that CXC has advised that territories or groups of territories across the Caribbean region may decide to maintain the subjects as a part of the suite of certification options for terminal exams, but such territories will be allowed to do so under certain conditions.
The OEC said that the communication from CXC’s office was sent to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Dr Kasan Troupe and copied to the OEC for information purposes.
The Ministry of Education and Youth will reportedly be meeting with stakeholders ahead of the new academic year and will “ensure a consensus in the best interest of the nation’s youth”.
Meanwhile, the OEC has now set early June as the date for the final payment to teachers who marked school-based assessments (SBA) in 2022.
Last week Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) President Leighton Johnson said that several teachers who had marked SBAs in 2022 were yet to be paid despite a promise from the Ministry of Education that final payments would be made by April.
In a release on Monday the Ministry of Education said it has tasked the OEC with disbursing the retroactive payments
“The OEC acknowledges the delays in these payments and assures teachers, schools, and stakeholders that the issue is being addressed with utmost priority. We are committed to resolving this matter promptly and will keep the public informed of any significant updates,” the release said. —KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC)
https://www.guardian.co.tt/news/jamaica-to-decide-if-to-continue-with-subjects-cut-from-cxc-6.2.2007990.00f25e3f13