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…says there is need to further simplify the content and the methodology of the exam
UNICEF has registered its objection to plans by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) to proceed with the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) for students as currently designed.
In a statement on Monday, UNICEF called on CXC and the Ministers of Education to make necessary adjustments to the content and administration of the exams, in line with recommendations provided by the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT). Such a move UNICEF said will ensure that the region’s students are not further disadvantaged.
“We do recognize the efforts already made by the CXC in reducing certain requirements for these examinations and making concessions such as (i) providing the topics for the long answer paper (Paper 2) five weeks prior to the commencement of the exams, (ii) reducing requirements for the SBAs and extending submission dates for some subjects and (iii) facilitating deferments to 2022 if students meet specific criteria, (iv) the currently discussed further postponement of the examination date. However, there are still a number of issues which require more substantial changes and flexibility. For example, no change has been made on the multiple-choice paper (Paper 1) which will still cover the entire syllabus, and no clear structure was shared as to how those students who meet deferral requirements and choose to defer will be supported to sit the exams at a later date in 2022,” UNICEF explained.
It said the current pandemic context has further exacerbated the gaps in preparedness amongst the most disadvantaged students.
UNICEF said this year there is a higher risk of those students in vulnerable conditions never sitting the exams.
“This could seriously affect not only their further education at higher secondary or tertiary levels, but their future. As these high stakes exams are scheduled to proceed amidst a significant disruption to schooling at varying degrees across the Caribbean since early 2020, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and continued partial or full school closures, the heightened risk of being further left behind, in particular students from lower income households, who continue to experience major challenges in accessing online learning is an important consideration,” it reasoned.
It said too that natural disasters such as the recent eruption of the La Soufrière volcano in St- Vincent have had an additional negative impact on the learning of thousands of students.
“Teachers, parents and students themselves repeatedly expressed their worries about the low levels of preparedness, as the pandemic and the related impact on education prevented students from attaining learning outcomes as desired. If the exams were to be implemented as decided, our main concern is the low level of preparedness (academically and psychologically) of many of the thousands of 16–18-year-old students across the region to sit the exams,” it further explained.
It argued that requiring students to sit an examination that includes components that cover an entire two-year course of study would risks being ineffective. As such, it is calling for an equitable approach to these critical examinations, which takes into account the unequal access to learning due to the digital divide, the reduced curriculum coverage, and the high psycho-emotional stress, among other consequences of the prolonged school closure due to the pandemic.
“We therefore wish to recommend that the proposals made by the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) on how the CSEC and CAPE exams could be adapted to the specific needs and capacities of the students should be thoroughly considered by the CXC,” UNICEF urged.
UNICEF is therefore calling on the Ministers of Education of the CARICOM countries to request CXC to adjust the CSEC and CAPE exams 2021, and to further simplify the content and the methodology of the exam across all subjects.
As recommended by CUT, it said Paper 1 should only test rationalized topics that are tested in Paper 2 and not the entire syllabi as the said syllabi would not have been completed.
Further, it said that CXC should remove all hurdles in Paper 2 including compulsory questions and ensure that no one question item should test two or more content areas.
“In order to provide extra support to students in times of COVID-19, UNICEF wishes to call on the Ministers of the CARICOM countries to: expand and intensify the provision of mental health and psycho-social support for children as they prepare for the exams. Children who are participating in exams in 2021, regardless of the form the exam takes, should be provided with support to ensure they are mentally prepared and have the tools to deal with the added stress of being examined at this time,” it further urged.
It also recommended that children be allowed to defer their exams.
“Governments should guarantee that all children who decide to defer the sitting of exams to 2022 will automatically continue to be registered at their current schools,” it posited.
UNICEF said it stands committed to support ongoing efforts whilst making the call for equity and inclusivity, especially for those children and young people, who are now at heightened risk of being left behind.
