Coordinator of the Caribbean Coalition for Education Redress, Paula-Ann Moore, is calling for a complete overhaul of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC). She told CNC3’s The Morning Brew that CXC is not student-centred enough, and its governance and operational structures should be reviewed.
Should CXC be mothballed?
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53 responses to “Should CXC be mothballed?”
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Why are these two things mutually exclusive?
Why is it not possible to plan the overhaul and program implementation as if a large project?
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Scrapping CXC will be a unforgivable mistake. It’s obvious that in recent times some very serious and embarassing situations have emerged but encouraging or suggesting that we go back to Cambridge /Oxford , will be an admission that we cannot solve our own problems. The major problem seems to be a lack of proper security and corruption that exploits that lack of security.
CXC is just another chapter of sloppy planning and resting too quickly on our laurels. The same happened with our cricket. We reach certain levels and then determine there are no further heights to achieve.
As the Caribbean civilization continues to emerge, we need to continuously seek new leadership and ideas.
The simple truth is that we really have no where else to go ! The standard and quality of life in the region is threatened by visionless leaders.
There is no need to throw out the baby with the bathwater.
The moment we set foot in any other country, we automatically become second class citizens and those who believe that being given a piece of paper marked : Citizen, is a passport to eternal happiness , know deep down , that those who have remained in the region and strived , have the advantage of looking around and seeing people who look like them controlling their fate in some form or fashion their destiny.With all the flaws it’s still the best deal .
Those who want to trust some white semi-literate, pure bred jack ass to lead them are really ready for another form of slavery that would make what transpired before look like a walk in the park. -
no comment!
Bad concepts can ONLY end in chaos.
TIRED explaining this…. -
Education has changed it’s gone technology centred sci fi with virtual reality, AI etc.
Incorporating science fiction into science education provides a holistic and engaging approach to learning.
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“We’re both, all, spiritual beings.
Might you not be confusing the religious with the spiritual.”
Okay let’s take if from here with some deeper knowledge wisdom and understanding
that might lead to black consciousness teachings in school.Creativity for Spirituality
Heroes of Black History and Prophecy and Reggae Music is deemed extra curricula and left for children and adults to do their own research to find and discover African Roots.Perhaps school children should be guided to do their own research for people like Marcus Garvey, Emperor Haile Selassie, Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X, MLK etc as special black studies projects, designed to increase creativity.
Energy Work
The secret / sexual / sacral chakra is believed to be the second primary chakra in the human body and is called Svadhisthana according to Hindu Tantrism.This chakra is said to be blocked by fear, especially the fear of death. Opening this chakra can boost creativity, manifested desire and confidence. It’s thought to govern how you experience sexuality, creative expression, emotions, and more.
Marcus Garcey – Modern Prophet
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@William
CXC has been rolled out for too long a period to be having these recurring concerns about the quality of some of the examinations. What is clear is that if key stakeholders continue to expose the same problems year after year, it is only a matter of time that it will attract attention from international acceleration entities. Let us fix the problem. It would definitely be an indictment on the region if CXC is allowed to fail.
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Duality and Non Duality
Out of one came many
Out of many came oneBabylon hold I
try to control I
These are the words of Marcus Mosiah Garvey..Music In My Soul
There’s music in my soul today,
A joy of heart not there before:
This state of conscience I relay
To rich and proud and meek and poor.
There’s music in my happy Soul:
From Heaven’s realm doth truly flow
This music in my happy Soul,
My conscience tells me rightly so.My song of joy I sing to you:
Let peace and love forever be
Among ye men of every hue,
Of every land and charted sea.I crave no other fortune great,
But joy to live in peace with God;
My hopes are fixed on His Estate,
In faith so true as prophets had.
This music in my soul today
I spread in truth with love unfurled;
On waves of cheer it goes, I pray,
To reach around the belted world.“One God! One Aim! One Destiny!” (UNIA)
Marcus Garvey and his organization, the Universal Negro Improvement AssociationHe looked to the literal fulfillment of Psalm 68:31:
“Princes shall come out of Egypt: Ethiopia shall soon stretch forth her hands unto God.”Out of many, one people: The Story of Jamaica
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Higher education these days is all about $$$. Most institutions could give a flying flamingo about anything other than getting paid. When the names on the lower testing body, include many from the main recipient entity of higher learning, you already have a conflict?
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@ David
Agreed. However CXC has had a solid existence until recently. We have to expect these things as our new institutions emerge. However, to return to Cambridge will be a fatal error.
We totally agree with @BushTea that we are basically not paying attentions to how we go about our business but there is no need to throw out the baby with the bath water.
We have a long road to travel and a rough , rough way to go. But we can’t turn back. (Jimmy Cliff) -
There seems to be a renewed thrust to keep the CXC issue front and center. Kudos to all the advocates representing the issue.
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When you drill down into the particular issue this lady is building her case on, she loses all credibility, really fast, it is almost comical and it leads me to believe her motives are not geniune.
The question causing the issue required knowledge of material covered in the previous unit. She is claiming that because the syllabus for the current unit did not include the topic covered in the previous unit the candidates were at a disadvantage. However the syllabus clearly states that candidates undertaking this unit must have a sound understanding of the material covered in the previous unit.
In the days of A’level, students did an exam and had to know all of the material covered in 2 years. Getting an A in a science subject was incredbile because of the amount of material covered. CXC splitting subjects reduces the burden on the student but it does not change the fundamentals of the subject, it is all connected. These sutdents expected to study this unit in a vacuum almost as if the previous unit did not exist. The real world does not work that way. No good deed goes unpunished. In an effort to help students CXC created entitlement.
So in conclusion, non-issue, the lady is an idiot and she should stick to baking cookies and whatever else kept women do -
@ Redguard
“….the lady is an idiot and she should stick to baking cookies and whatever else kept women do”
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That is unusually harsh from you.., and somewhat uncalled for Boss.
Even by Bushie’s own down-to-earth standards.The facts are that neither the Lady Speaker, the CXC, the various Ministries of Eddykashun, and CERTAINLY not the BBs that CXC claims to serve …have ANY clear idea of what they are seeking to achieve.
So…
Parents want exams that allow their lazy, dumb children to all get 10 grade 1 passes..Children want to receive results which please parents, and that enable them to emigrate..
CXC would just like to get through the process without controversy.. while enjoying their CARICOM job perks.
The Ministry of Eddykashun just wants to distract attention from its inability to resolve the 11-plus saga… from the IDB agenda.. and from the LACK of ANY meaningful role in taking the society forward (including the idiocy of allowing gangster hairstyles in school)
The hoards of BBs somehow dream that this ‘CXC initiative’ means that we have achieved a level of ‘independence’ and thus of societal ‘progress’… DESPITE all the contrary evidence.
We therefore have a clear case of ‘the blind’ leading the ‘sleeping’ into the intellectual abyss…
In such an environment, someone, ANYONE, who challenges the process, ON WHATEVER GROUNDS, is bringing the potential fo change into the equation… even if a ‘kept’ person…
“Education” is really the INTELLECTUAL, CULTURAL, SOCIAL and TECHNOLOGICAL process of progressively advancing a society.
Any ‘Examination process’ SHOULD therefore be a mechanism that measures and certifies the EXTENT to which our education system is being successful, ..AND EVEN MORE CRITICALLY, what changes are required to it, ..to MAXIMIZE the advancement of the damn society.Instead, education has become a hobby-horse for all manner of BBs to ride, beat, milk, and abuse. A TRUE ‘eddykashun’ mess…. if ever there was one…
Not that this matters that much now ANYWAY…
No real point in investing seriously in future ship management – AFTER the Titanic has already intersected with the iceberg….What a place
What a curse
What a SPECIAL time to be alive… -
“What a place
What a curse
What a SPECIAL time to be alive…”when exactly was the peak Barbados period
i.e. the best time in Barbados history to be alive
ware the glory days back in the 60s when the average Buer had their best memories -
My problem with CXC is its indecisiveness. The worst part is that CXC comes out loud, bold and strong with its feet firmly planted in the ground and then change its position with just a whimper.
Any organization that is prone to making mistake should think long and carefully about its decision, thoroughly discuss the pros and cons of those decisions and the possible reversal of the decision and then act sensibly.
After seeing CXC fold once, folks in the Caribbean realized that CXC is a mouth giant and will engage it. They know two things will happen (1) CXC will defend the decision and (2) with a high probability CXC will reverse the position,
I am not even interested in how wrong or how right the position is. CXC cannot lead by trial an error. Sir, we have management and decision making problems on our hands
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@ David
Bushie’s point EXACTLY!
When you have no VISION, then any plan can work. So a 180% change is ‘no big thing’.These people have NO IDEA what they are doing. They merely blunder along pretending to be intelligent by the way they dress, and by REARLY speaking in informed circles.
Then they are DIRECTED by the collection of political jokers called ‘Ministers of Education’ who are EVEN LESS CLUELESS (they don’t even DRESS the part).
CAN IT GET ANY WORSE?AND you know of course, that this EXACT analysis applies to:
Housing
Energy
Transport
World Cup
Governance – FOI, Auditor General Reports, PAC
Hurricane Preparedness
Health
Agriculture, Fisheries, Food
Water
Cost of Living
ETC…What more EXACTLY will it take for us to RECOGNIZE that we are on the completely wrong track?
Starvation and disease? – after a (very possible) hurricane..?True EDUCATION would have guided us COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY as a country.
…of course, our national (global?) demise STARTED with the single most INEPT and misguided set of jackasses … Those pathetic jokers, calling themselves Ministers of God, claiming to speak for and on behalf of the CREATOR, but who are nothing but empty cymbals …of brass.
What a place
What a thing nuh…
What a curse -
@ Bushie ; @ David
It seemes that the subjects were dropped for two reasons :
1. Poor student enrollment ;
2. Lack of equipment needed to properly instruct students.
However, a further reading of the report , indicates that CXC , has introduced or
introducing some progressive subjects.
We believe that the non-interest in the dropped subjects, is symptomatic of the fact that we are still placing emphasis on academic curricula. In other words, do we seriously believe that a student from any of the so-called prestigious grammar schools would opt to persue plumbing rather than the highly regarded Island Scholarships given throughout the islands.
Futhermore the report, clearly shows that there is need for a comprehensive reform of the education system , throughout the region.
Once more @Bush Tea position on the brassbowls, running our region is more than accurate.
We take half baked politicians, who win a seat and put them in charge of our most precious resource. We suggest that we appoint a Director of Education, with a proven track record in the field and eliminate the Ministers of Education. We are certain that there are well qualified and progressive educators , throughout the region.
We cannot continue to allow these clowns to destroy our children via their brazen political skullduggery. We have stated that education is not importing fancy garbage trucks or buses with captivating photo ops.
How can we defend a government announcing that an examination will be abolished in eight months and had no suitable replacement or even ideas about replacements but now three years later don’t know what to do but finds time to talk for fancy talk about Junior Colleges and Schools of Excellence. None of these has been explained to the public and what criteria will be used. So , to save face its back to useless Town Hall meetings and pathetic political diatribe.
They can fly on CXC but …………… -
@ William
“We suggest that we appoint a Director of Education, with a proven track record in the field and eliminate the Ministers of Education. We are certain that there are well qualified and progressive educators , throughout the region.”
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An excellent proposal, but somewhat dated- for two key reasons.1 – the horse has already bolted, so your proposed new gate is now 20/20 hindsight. We have made our bed, and must now lay down on it…
2 – check out BU’s 10 point plan for PROPER governance, and you will see the proposal YEARS AGO, for the head hunting, recruitment, and employment of trained, experienced, professional MANAGERS to run such critical areas of national life as Education, Health, Transport, Housing, etc.
But we Brass Bowls prefer to live by PROMISES made by sweet-talking tricksters – EVEN WHEN PRACTICALLY ALL PAST PROMISES HAVE BEEN BROKEN.
It takes a CURSE to be so dense…
What a place…
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From BT
“The subjects were challenged because of the lack of human [resources] to provide support for areas such as welding, plumbing and electrical installation … physical resources like textbooks were also challenges the system did not provide,” he told journalists.*** Which comes first “the chicken or the egg”? Before padding it lists of courses CXC should have thoroughly explored the avalable resources, the resources required to maintain these courses and if the support could be sustained.
From BT
“Another hurdle was limited prospects for academic progression, as many universities did not require the subjects for admission. For those taking green and electrical engineering, maths and physics were the preferred options, not the subjects themselves, Ali noted.”**** IF CXC sees its role as supplying students to tertiary institutions, then CXC should first look at what is required by these institutions and provide students with the necessary training. Have we moved beyond producing lawyers, doctors, engineers, teachers etc. As independent nations we must fill the all the roles required for our development. It is difficult for me to comment more here without knowing if polytechnics are involved with CXC. Can CXC support these technical subjects?
From BT
“One of the things we found is that in many instances, there are no opportunities for upward mobility beyond the subjects because many of the universities and community colleges do not make it a requirement for entry into their programmes,” he said.“For those who are taking green and electrical engineering, maths and physics were the options that the universities preferred and not green engineering itself or electronic engineering technology.”
***Is CXC just a replacement for the old British exams? Is it just a feeder for tertiary institutions? What role does CXC seek to play in regional development?
More questions than answers.
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“We believe that the non-interest in the dropped subjects, is symptomatic of the fact that we are still placing emphasis on academic curricula. In other words, do we seriously believe that a student from any of the so-called prestigious grammar schools would opt to pursue plumbing rather than the highly regarded Island Scholarships given throughout the islands.”
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Accurate analysis.
BUT do you not see that this tells us that RATHER than the Education system DRIVING THE CHANGE in the society by LEADING CHANGE, what we have is a shiite system REACTING to demands from little inexperiences children, who are yet to see two stars pitch?
In SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, we will obviously end up with a CULTURE and SOCIETY that is molded by EXTERNAL educational influences – WHICH ARE CURRENTLY 100% ALBINO-CENTRIC.Can you see now, how CRITICAL education is to ANY hope of national success?
…and why we are being SWAMPED by albino-centric greed, standards and culture?You simply CANNOT put a brass bowl to do a LEADER’s Job…..
…and not expect chaos. -
The question is how is CXC defined regarding its management structure. Is it setup to make efficient management decisions. It appears there is a structural problem which will sometimes manifests in the examination room.
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@Bush Tea
See comment about but a chink in your opinion is that CXC is a regional entity.
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@Willam
Agree with much of your comment, not only is there a structural problem to be solved in CXC’s management structure, the outflow from that is execution of syllabi not being aligned: prepping the environment for consumers (students) of the testing. The management of CXC and respective decision makers in the region must be in lockstep what we want to achieve from testing.
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Bushie
“Rarely speaking in informed circles”
If there was ever a nail ……….. you hit it on the head.
If you ever had the misfortune of being on the Hill you would have seem this being performed, institutionally.
You would have found that there are certain obedience cults which demand the acceptance of the world views of the petty leaders.
So far from challenging percieved wisdom the objectives are to micmick the leader of the cult and thereby recieve the blessings only he or she can bestow.
Is it any wonder there can never be a radical transformation of anything within our region.
The objective is seldom to speak within informed circles but generally to limit oneself to the congregation of believers.
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@Bush Tea
You would think given the importance of education to our development matters like this one would provoke an uprising in the country i.e. people marching. We do spend a significant slice of the budget on education. All of us should feel vested in the issue.
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MODERN ACADEMIC ATTAINMENT IS NO LONGER FIT FOR PURPOSE, HENCE THE REASON SOME DEGREES ARE MERE INK ON SHEEP’S SKIN & SOME DISCIPLINES MERE #MoneySpinners FOR THE INSTITUTIONS WHO PEDDLE THEIR DOPAMINE FIXES GARBED AS ACADEMIC PROWESS
The #POSTmodernEducationSystem is in crisis, (TURNING OUT MISFITS BY THE 1000s) as it’s not just about the “STRUCTURATION OF CIRRICULI” or “DRY ACADEMIC TEACHERS”, whose methods would not excite Shakespearean under-study – the problem lies in the very “FOUNDATIONAL STRUCTURE” of the system itself & it is for this reason why modern education is not fit for purpose!!!
Academics focus on “TEACHING”, rather than “LEARNING” – imparting knowledge, rather than empowering students to learn the necessity of “CRITICAL THINKING”!!!
This approach neglects the individuality of every student and fails to develop “PLAUSIBLE CREATIVITY”, and “PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS”, that need to take one through the “LIFE CHOICES” that will impinge on “CAREER”, “FAMILY” & “MONEY” – (no wonder the #PoLIEticians who supposedly run things are so “INEPT” when it comes to proper “DECISION-MAKING”)!!!
The “ACADEMIC SYSTEM” is based on “ROUTINIZATION & STANDARDIZATION”, which means that students are forced to conform to a “NARROW SET” expectations that leads to a “LACK OF DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT, EXPRESSION & CREATIVITY”, as most are not encouraged to “THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX” or explore their own independent interests!!!
Modern education is designed to “PRODUCE FOLLOWERS” (SHEEPLE), rather than engender “INDEPENDENT THOUGHT LEADERS that stifles “INDIVIDUALITY & CREATIVITY”, as students are not encouraged to think critically or “CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUIO”!!!
The “ISSUE” in 2024, is not preparing our young people for “REAL WORLD CHALLENGES” – (PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, SOCIOLOGICALLY, ECONOMICALLY, FINANCIALLY & SPIRITUALLY)!!! We are not teaching them the skills (AT HOME OR IN SCHOOL), given what they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world, emboldened with the “TOOLS OF ADAPTABILITY, RESILIENCE & PROBLEM-SOLVING” – as the system is “HELLBENT” in its focus on “MEMORIZATION”, rather than “CRITICAL UNDERSTANDING” – refusing to encourage kids to “THINK PROFOUNDLY” about the material, instead of memorizing facts & figures!!!
School are not keeping pace with “TECHNOLOGY” as it is crucial if kids are to be prepped for the jobs of the future, while teaching them the “LIFE SKILLS” they will need to succeed in a rapidly changing world, while encouraging “LIFELONG” learning & the value of “CONTINUOUS LEARNING” & “PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT”, given the changing nature of work in 2024 & onward!!!
If Bajans educators are going 2 “RIP UP” the #CXC_Platform – then they are gonna’ need “RADICAL REVOLUTIONARIES” whose thinking is in no way “MAINSTREAM” – for reshuffling the “DECK CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC” is an exercise in futility!!!
TIME TO STEP OUT FROM PALEOCENTRIC MINDSET INTO A BRAVE NEW WORLD OF EXPLORATION
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@ David & Pacha
“…a chink in your opinion is that CXC is a regional entity.”
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So is CSME and CARICOM.
ALL a bunch of shiite and wasted resources. You WELL know that Bushie came out saying this, OVER and OVER, even before OSA’s time…Either we have a SINGLE Caribbean entity or we DON’T.
This lotta shiite of a loose economic / educational / trade arrangement – while little PETTY political despots continue to be ‘kings and queens’ of their own little beggar’s island – is a little too funny for a bushman.If we TRULY understood education, CXC would simply be an UMBRELLA body that facilitated :
the exchange of ideas
the sharing of data and resources
Comparing RESULTS achieved and benchmarking standardsThe VERY BEST individual systems would then become a BEACON for the others to follow, RATHER than the present MEDIOCRITY that results from compromises between 15 different confused political morons, whose MAIN objective is re-election – to be able to continue to draw a salary.
@ Pacha
Don’t get Bushie started on UWI …and on academic BULLY tactics that perpetuate the kowtow attitudes of 98% of UWI graduates – especially the lotta ‘doctuhs’.
LOL
No wonder the WHOLE damn country is run by NON-CAVE HILL graduates (and even NON graduates) who then employ these ‘kowtow specialists’ to do their dastardly biddings…@ David
“People marching…?”You SERIOUS..? LOL
If we were to try to move Reggae on the Hill..
or to ban nakedness in the streets at Kadooment…
THEN you would see BBs marching. -
School standards have slipped around the world. Kids nowadays don’t read books, they use other media like computers, google, videos etc.
Best forms of learning are self discovery and research deep diving into subjects that interest you with repeated practice for improvement. Seek and you will find.
Teachers are not the most intelligent and those that are just passing through as a temporary position before moving onto better jobs. They are scared of violence and are happy to just maintain peace and control of classes with less aggravation.
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“School standards have slipped around the world. Kids nowadays don’t read books, they use other media like computers, google, videos etc.”
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LOL @ Kiki
Just post de video and leave the editorializing to Bushie… LOLThe FACT that “Kids nowadays don’t read books, they use other media like computers, google, videos etc” does NOT represent a SLIPPAGE of school standards, but rather a CHANGED REALITY that should not only have been FACTORED INTO education, but ideally, should have been ANTICIPATED and EXPLOITED by visionary officials.
Take the local idiocy of UAVs (drones) which represents the global leading edge in robotics, but which the officials bout here have BANNED now for years.
Now we are looking for loans to BUY such technology from others who had the foresight to ENCOURAGE such research… -
You split hairs like a woman, and always moan when the videos are posted
if you don’t understand simple points made just shut up and think about it.. regarding resonating energy vibrations in all cells and atoms that terry alluded to here’s some music for brain enhancement, try it to see what you feel
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Minister Sandra Husbands admitted today that some member regional countries have been defaulting on payments to CXC which is compromising its delivery. Where have we heard this before?
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If the region really valued agriculture and engineering development then there would be well funded, equipped and innovative institutions of training and research. Instead the region celebrates that CXC offers some half baked certificates done in secondary schools.
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Exam redress body looking to step up action
THE CARIBBEAN COALITION for Exam Redress is looking to step up its advocacy to the political level.
Yesterday, spokesperson Paula Ann Moore said both CARICOM and the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) had been ignoring them for too long so it was time to gain attention another way.
“We have found over the past five academic years that we are not getting a sufficient response at the CARICOM level to the clear deficiencies that we have been demonstrating throughout our regional advocacy in CXC’s accountability, communications, exam structure, the grading and security breaches over the years.
“It clearly shows that there’s a need for enhanced oversight, which has been our position since September 2020 [but] it seems as though neither at CXC level nor at CARICOM ministerial level, there is a willingness to acknowledge that there’s a problem and engage us students, parents and teachers as valued stakeholders in governance and decision-making to fix the problem.
“So what I am hearing more and more recently is that there is a need to put this as an election agenda item because we are not getting the support that we think is needed at the CARICOM level. Perhaps if we make it a political issue, the politicians in CARICOM will work with us and work with CXC to address what are clear deficiencies,” she said.
Moore said this was one option of many and the coalition was looking at various avenues.
“We are looking to formalise the coalition nationally and regionally and we have identified international parent organisations that we can work with to advance and advocate children’s rights. Don’t forget, the coalition is made up of a number of various entities and individuals so different people can do different strategies for the same cause,” she said.
The parent advocate, who is also the coordinator of The Group of Concerned Parents Barbados, gave regional ministers credit for “reading CXC the riot act” regarding the proposal to scrap two Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination subjects – green engineering and electronic engineering technology, and two Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate subjects – agricultural science and industrial technology – because of the inadequacy of labs and facilities and the lack of qualified teaching professionals.
Too infrequent
However, she said such positive action was too infrequent and it showed the arrogance of CXC in attempting to make such a decision unilaterally.
Moore said she was a “proud product of CXC” but remained concerned that if the regional body did not make fundamental changes, it would result in damage to the trust, reputation and confidence in it, driving those with the means to seek out other examination bodies like Cambridge, which she said was already happening.
“If this continues to happen, there will be an increasing widening of the gap in education nationally and regionally between the haves and the have-nots,” she said.
Barbados Association of Principals of Public Secondary Schools president Stephen Jackman, who said he did not have any opinion on the subjects in question and was simply satisfied a decision was made using established processes.
“We have a process in CARICOM and it works. I don’t have a position on the subjects, I’m speaking on the process. If it is the position of the majority this is what has to happen, then the process has worked. I don’t have any reservations one way or the other,” he said.
Jackman did point out, however, the conversation revolving around the practicality of the subjects had been a topic of discussion for years.
“I can tell you, CXC has been having this conversation on the syllabi for a long time, since 2020, and it is unfair to make it look like it just came out of the blue,” he said.
Satisfied
President of the Barbados Union of Teachers, Rudy Lovell, said the union was satisfied as the right decision was made.
“We had advocated for CXC to reverse its decision so the union is happy. The removal of those subjects would have had several implications for schools such as on staffing and timetabling and there may have also been a level of infrastructural dormancy.
“What we would suggest is to have some form of advertising locally and regionally, whether it be a competition among the subject areas or an exhibition to enhance the offering to students. It would give students [taking the four contentious subjects] the opportunity to showcase their talents and lead to interest in those subject areas among other students,” he said. ( CA)
Source: Nation
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Clearly what we have is one massive case of the “Peter principle”.
A large set of jokers, operating many tiers ABOVE their actual levels of competence.
The signs are there:
– Decisions made by majority vote rather than by logical consensus.
– Emotional rants about ‘feelings’ – rather than COLD FACTS about results.
– Completely illogical shiite talk about needing ‘political clout’..
… to do what? – different shiite??!Redguard was actually correct….
However, it still is better to at least have someone ‘reading braille’, than only the blind leading the blind.What a mess.
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CXC itself admits that the courses which were to be discontinued were not accepted by tertiary institutions for entry. Yet the politicians want students to study these “dead-end” subjects.
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@ Ping
The politicians just want to be able to SAY that they are supporting these areas, EVEN THOUGH we all know (the awake public, the students, the teachers, and the CXC) that it is a lotta BS.Your suggestion of developing “well funded, equipped and innovative institutions of training and research” is a bridge too far for jokers who have shown themselves to be INCAPABLE of assembling prefabricated LEGGO steel houses – even with $50 million to play with…
These are the SAME jokers (the BB variety) who BANNED drone technology from Brassbados for the last 5 years – while the research was skyrocketing everywhere else …
Just like OSA ‘solved’ the piss poor Public Service quagmire by creating a new department called ‘Public Sector Reform’ (which turned out to an additional shiite department), the CURRENT jokers are seeking to ‘solve’ our DEAD productive sectors (agriculture and engineering) by pushing these useless CXC courses.
Sad to say!
But there is NO hope for our donkeys… -
@Bush Tea
It is a structural issue. Don’t we have the same issue with funding UWI? What was the issue with LIAT? What about the latest brouhaha at CDB?
It is not a reminder we are challenged to efficiently manage regional entities/affairs?
What will it take? It can’t be only the politicians? Other actors in civil society must step up.
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@ David at 8:19 am
EXACTLY and precisely…!What will it take…?
‘WISDOM’, ….in a single word.Ping Pong has, for example, pointed to an OBVIOUS educational approach REQUIRED to move productivity forward… Has there been ANY discussion on THAT clear need…?
Unfortunately, (and quite OBVIOUSLY) ‘wisdom’ has DEPARTED from among us.
THIS is the CURSE of which the bushman speaks…Would you REALLY want to discuss why???
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Marching, David? Fuh wuh? We first have to decide what exactly we are marching to achieve. I like always to “start at the very beginning. It’s a very good place to start.”
What is our national vision? I had a boss once whose strength was in having a vision and a plan. He saw the big picture. He saw the little picture. And he saw how the puzzle pieces would fit together.
Unfortunately, he was too impatient to prove himself and tried to build Rome in a day. As one co-worker sussed out, “Mr. S judges success on how many projects have been started, not how many have been completed.”
The poor Romans were running around like chickens with the heads cut off.
We need to pause and look into the future to decide who we wish to be.
I suspect we are still wishing to be doctors and lawyers. I suspect that we are still locked in a stupid mind box.
Until we get out of that…..march shite! In blasted mud????
Not Donna!
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@Donna
Your last comment addresses a leadership vacuum at several levels. The word ‘marching’ should be interpreted in a generic way to explain a priority need for civil society to not usurp its role to be strident in our advocacy for what we see are required. We tend to hand responsibility for all things to a few politicians.
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“What will it take? It can’t be only the politicians? Other actors in civil society must step up.”
@ David
Recall on the ‘monkey thread,’ I mentioned ‘independent special interest or lobbying groups.’
Unfortunately, we seem to believe that 30 men and women in Parliament can adequately solve all our problems, or depend solely upon them to do so, without any input or participation from ‘other independent actors in civil society.’
That for anyone to make any positive contribution to the development of Barbados, he/she has to be a politician….. or advocacy groups must be affiliated with a political party.
Labour unions, for example, are one of the most important advocacy groups in any country.
The BWU’s history indicates members of its hierarchy were also members of the DLP, and recently, the BLP.
A similar situation existed at NUPW, Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) and Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) as well.
These unions become ‘dormant’ when their ‘political party is in power,’ and very vocal when it’s not.We also had a consumer organisation, BarCRO, the Director General of which was a frequent caller to the ‘call-in-programmes,’ supporting and defending the BLP.
Two other groups emerged subsequently, that were established by known DLP supporters.Now we have a political activist who has a YouTube channel named ‘the people’s opposition,’ which I initially thought was INDEPENDENT, until I realised the majority of persons on her panel are members of the DLP.
And, to make matters worse, she can be seen rallying around Ralph Thorne, who recently ‘crossed the floor’ to join that political party.
By her actions, that lady is essentially suggesting the ‘people’s opposition’ IS the DLP.Even the ‘call-in-programmes’ are moderated by persons who don’t even bother to hide their political affiliation.
They give party supporters enough uninterrupted time to articulate their points, while cross examining and interrupting callers who lean towards the opposing party.
Those same moderators are rewarded with ‘picks’ as Senators, Ministers of State, Chairmen/women or board-members of SOEs and consultants. -
@Artax
Nothing to add.
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David,
Yes, even when there is vision and planning we fail at implementation. All that is necessary cannot be found in one person or set of people. Teamwork is necessary. And we, through our tendency to politicking, never assemble the right team.
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As far back as the 1970s, the NUPW had a General Secretary , O’Brian Trotman , who was a BLP. Trade Unions have always had political affiliation within both parties. This is nothing recent in either party.
We also recall that as soon as the BLP won the government, O’ Brian Trotman became a government senator and then the Minister of Health.
Back then Trotman had refused to accept any increase the then DLP government offered. Barrow decided to legislate salaries.
Tom Adams as Opposition Leader was furious and said on the floor of Parliament, that salaries should “ never”be legislated; that the collective bargaining process must be used until such settlements are reached.
Lo and behold , Tom Adams became Prime Minister and he also legislated salaries.
So, this belief that the BLP ,only got trade unionists in their bed recently is not accurate.
We recall the late Gladstone Holder, in one his columns asked what happened to the
Tom Adams, who had made such a brilliant speech about the need to never abandon the
Collective bargaining process.
Our political culture has little chance of progressively changing , as long as the BLPDLP remain the dominant parties.
And anybody who has the time to go in the archives of both new and old media , including the BU blog, will se why.
We reap what we sow. -
Nation Editorial (7/06/2024)
Region’s people power vs CXC
The recent backlash following the announcement by the Caribbean Examinations Council’s (CXC) decision to discontinue several technical and vocational subjects at the secondary and advanced levels again highlights the power of the people to effect change.
All across the Caribbean, there was significant push-back from educators and non-governmental organisations on the initial news. What was noticeably absent was the lethargy seen in the response from ministers of education.
Chief executive officer Dr Wayne Wesley had earlier announced that four subjects – mechanical engineering, agricultural science (double award), green engineering, and electrical and electronic engineering and technology – would be discontinued from September at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination levels.
The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) indicated it was not supporting the CXC’s decision. Several regional educators also harshly criticised CXC for the decision, prompting it to reconsider.
In a statement Tuesday, CXC acknowledged “concerns being expressed by our valued stakeholders” over the “premature release of correspondence” about the syllabus suspension, calling the situation “regrettable”. It later scheduled a meeting with regional ministers of education and promised a public update afterwards.
There seems to be a suggestion by CXC that the decision was inadvertently leaked but it did not deny that the decision was based on a low level of enrolment in these subjects and below standard student performance.
While that may be true, those subject areas are critically needed for the future development of Caribbean economies, especially in the areas of agricultural science and green technologies in order to enhance our global competitiveness and capacity.
It was therefore timely, albeit belatedly so, that there was a meeting with regional ministers of education. We too were somewhat surprised by the lack of urgency by the ministers who reportedly urged CXC to reconsider its decision and find a solution to improve enrolment.
This newspaper supports the view of BUT president Rudy Lovell that dropping these subjects had serious implications for technical and vocational education and did not fall in line with the Caribbean Community’s Human Resource Development 2030 strategy, which emphasises skills development.
In a statement, he said, “By discontinuing these technical and vocational subjects, CXC’s decision seems to undermine this objective. Skills in agricultural science, mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, and green engineering are critical for regional development and innovation.”
As some in the region have suggested that even entertaining the idea, even if not implemented, is outrageous and would have been an abdication of CXC’s core objective of developing the region’s human capital. We should not remain silent while our educational opportunities are diluted.
All is not lost, as on Tuesday CXC decided it would not scrap those subjects in question but, along with the ministers of education in the region, would find “a critical path forward” on the matter, given the pressing education and human capacity development imperatives facing the region”.
We welcome the commitment given by Dr Wesley on behalf of CXC but would suggest that the solution to low enrolment and poor results in these subject areas should not be to discontinue the examinations but rather to help regional governments fix the problems.
If indeed resources are woefully lacking as outlined by deputy CEO and Pro-Registrar Dr Eduardo Ali, such as outdated equipment, inadequacy of labs and facilities together with the lack of qualified teachers, then there is a systemic problem which cannot be ignored.
CXC cannot afford to abandon its mission as too much is at stake now. The appropriate thing to do is to meet with regional education stakeholders to develop a broad-based plan to develop high-quality, globally recognised certification at the secondary level.
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From BT
“In a statement Tuesday, CXC acknowledged “concerns being expressed by our valued stakeholders” over the “premature release of correspondence” about the syllabus suspension, calling the situation “regrettable”.***I urge you not to get caught up with lengthy explanations or sweet spin. The problem appears to be that CXC has a leak from top to bottom. They have to fix those leaks somehow or the other.
From BT
“CXC cannot afford to abandon its mission as too much is at stake now.”
onlineFrom CXC
▸OUR MISSION:
“To provide the region with:
syllabuses of the highest quality; valid and reliable
examinations and certificates of international repute for students of all ages, abilities and interests;
services to educational institutions in the development of syllabuses, examinations and
examinations’ administration, in the most cost effective way”***I was hoping to find a more detailed and better mission statement.
If I were the head of CXC, I would call in all ‘board members’ to hash out a more meaningful mission statement that is useful to the region. The mission as given is too limited and not well defined. This is where the failure begins.Start bad , end bad. Folks are just throwing stuff on the wall and patting each other on the back
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Perhaps we should READ comments ‘a bit more’ THOROUGHLY in an attempt to UNDERSTAND the points being made.
I DID NOT make any BROAD REFERENCE to ‘trade unions’ in general, and that BLP members’ affiliation therewith is a recent development.
To suggest I did is dishonest and a blatant attempt to mislead this forum.
I made a SPECIFIC REFERENCE to the BWU, which I ‘said’ has a history of its hierarchy being members of the DLP. ‘And RECENTLY the BLP,’ was a reference to Tony Moore, who is that political party’s parliamentary representative for the constituency of St. George North.
If we were to go into details, Based on what I’ve read, both Frank Walcott (Assistant General Secretary) and Grantley Adams (President) were members of BWU. Walcott was Adams’ ‘right hand man’ in that union, BLP and House of Assembly, after he was elected as representative for St. Peter in 1945.
In 1947 Walcott succeeded Hugh Springer as General Secretary of BWU.
The British granted another constitutional advance to Barbados in 1954 that provided for a Premier and ministerial system.
Adams resigned as BWU President the same year, to become Premier of Barbados. But his decision not to select Walcott as a Minister, led to him (Walcott) becoming an ardent critic of Adams and he substantially reduced the union’s support for the ‘government.’Walcott won the St. Peter seat as an independent candidate in the 1956 general elections.
Between 1956 and 1961, the DLP and BWU forged an alliance, which lasted from 1961 when the DLP won the general elections, until recently, when Tony Moore became the union’s general secretary.I’ll invite the forum to read a working paper written by Curtis Jacobs, entitled, “The Barbados Workers’ Union and the Politics of Barbados: 1961 – 1986” ……
……from the September 16 – 19, 2007 ‘Frank Walcott Symposium,’ which was organised by the Hugh Lawson Shearer Trade Union Education Institute, University of the West Indies, in collaboration with the Barbados Workers’ Union, the theme of which was, ‘Celebrating a Trade Union Legend.’
I also mentioned a SIMILAR situation existed at the NUPW.
Although NOT going into details, it’s OBVIOUS I MEANT BOTH DLP and BLP members were at the helm of that union, because affiliation with the DLP and BLP was the GIST of my contribution.
I KNOW Trotman, who later became a minister of health under a BLP administration, was affiliated with the NUPW.
There was a guy, whose name I cannot remember at this time (Yearwood???), I think was a past president of the Barbados Cycling Union, was also a BEE and president of NUPW.Joseph Goddard, for example, who ‘favoured’ the DEMS, but subsequently joined the NDP and contested the 1994 general elections as that party’s candidate for St. Philip North, was also general secretary of the NUPW.
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Confession: I did not read, but you should
From BT
Seeking justice from CARICOM on CXC
“CXC must not be allowed to investigate themselves and then gaslight the region again. We need open, clear dialogue, facts and statistics. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. The list of unanswered questions is long. The answers to these questions may surprise some of us. CXC can be and should be something beautiful, a shared Caribbean experience that brings the region together and enriches the minds and collective knowledge of our future generation. A baton passed from the region’s intellectuals to the next in line. An indigenous exam tailored for the West Indian experience. Instead, it’s a joke. After years …… I have realised that absolutely no change can occur without political pressure. ‘CXC overhaul’ must be part of the election discussion in every region. These concerns may not affect you until it’s your child at the receiving end of some careless, indifferent injustice… but we must be a voice for those affected. Continuing with business as usual will cause permanent damage to education in the region.” – Kerwin Springer, Trinidad and Tobago online master educator, Student Hub.We are grateful that the CARICOM ministers of education read CXC the riot act during their meeting on June 4 with CXC and caused CXC to reverse its unilateral decision to drop four STEM, green energy, technology and vocational studies courses.
We note that, contrary to CXC’s earlier press statement, it was not CXC who had called the meeting with the CARICOM ministers of education, but the OECS ministers who initiated the meeting, as advised by Antigua and Barbuda’s minister. We also note that one of the reasons given by CXC for the cancellation of the four subject offerings, in yet another of their communications, was cost versus revenue considerations.
We are however disappointed that it appears the ministers did not use the opportunity of their June 4 meeting with CXC to launch the process of a review of CXC’s governance, as we have advocated. Indeed, this ministerial meeting was reactive to the latest CXC miscommunications, bloops and blunders, and not proactively address other pervasive challenges in CXC’s examinations and practices, inclusive of addressing the pursuit of fairness for our innocent CARICOM children, as we have championed consistently for since September 2020.
CXC’s unilateral proposed cancellation of the four subjects was contrary to certain of the key objectives of COHSOD’s own 2030 HRD policy and demonstrated yet again CXC’s culture of lack of accountability, disrespect of its stakeholders, even at the Ministerial level, and poor communications, all of which we have consistently drawn attention. We are unconvinced of the accuracy of CXC’s communication that their discontinuation notice was inadvertently released; there are recordings of Dr Wesley explaining the reasons.
The meeting with CXC of June 4 was an apparent missed opportunity by the CARICOM ministers of education to initiate a process for a more effective, long-needed overhaul of CXC’s governance, and to move towards a layer of independent expert regular oversight of CXC, as happens in UK OFQUAL. We note former Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw publicly endorsed our position regarding the need for governance reform during the 2021 inaugural CXC/ministerial summit, the first and only CARICOM minister to do so publicly.
As we consistently have said since September 2020, the issues at the heart of the CXC annual, increasing exam administration challenges appear to be:
1. Sub-optimal – large circular, cumbersome, Byzantine – governance. CXC’s council seems to have 30+ members, as per its website. This makes it difficult to optimise decision making and rapid response to crises; the public would not know for certain, as there is little information publicly available.
2. Lack of independent technical expert oversight of CXC.
Such oversight is unlikely to be feasible by politicians, so would not be COHSOD’s role.
3. Insufficient accountability/transparency/ communications, either to COHSOD or to CXC’s ultimate clients: students/ parents/teachers who tend to be overlooked as real stakeholders. Opportunities for dispute resolution regarding grades are virtually non-existent, due to legal protections and few Freedom of Information Acts within CARICOM.
4. Effective self-regulation of CXC (see how it handled the review of its own CAPE paper 2 Unit 2 Chemistry paper complaints). It has effectively thrown the teachers who presented data of exam paper flaws under the bus.
5. Poor communications which tend to exhibit aloof callousness and lack of care and concern for children; 20,000 students, parents and teachers signed petitions within a few days regarding 2024 CSEC Maths and Add Maths exam papers. There has been no update to the alleged CSEC Principles of Accounting Paper 2 security breach.
Both CXC and our CARICOM governments appear to have continued ignoring these and other concerns, based on their lack of response or updates.
6. Signs of sub-optimal processes and competencies in exam paper setting, grading, and exam paper breaches.
7. Lack of transparency in grade boundaries, and rubrics, access to student scripts, and other technical info on exams often shared by other exam bodies.
8. CXC’s strategic plan philosophy: An apparent costreduction, private for-profit business-type culture versus public service approach. CXC’s current mission and vision statements refer to the same, not to centring as a core objective the maximising of student potential, a fundamental child right, according to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.These are some of the fundamental issues at the heart of challenges emanating from CXC’s and CARICOM’s Ministers of Education’s joint administration of CXC’s exams annually.
We note that during the Great CXC Grading Fiasco of 2020, CXC’s independent review team of October 2020 published a report with numerous recommendations, inclusive of enhanced communications with the public. To what extent have these recommendations been addressed by CXC? Have they been reviewed by COHSOD? The pandemic has revealed the ‘comorbidities of education.’ How can we collectively repair these if these challenges remain apparently largely unacknowledged and unaddressed, based on recurring issues, by CXC and CARICOM governments?
We again exhort and challenge our CARICOM governments and CXC to meet with us, key stakeholders who too often go ignored: students, parents, and rank-and-file teachers, so our perspectives can directly inform decision-making and governance, and a better path forward be developed. CXC needs the trust and confidence of the public to thrive. There has been self-inflicted damage which is worsening annually.
We thank Minister of State in the Ministry of Education Sandra Husbands for publicly engaging with us on June 5 and acknowledging some of these challenges, especially those relating to governance. We thank Opposition Senator Tricia Watson, as a member of our national parent group, for recently extensively highlighting in the Senate the issues we have been consistently advocating on, these past five academic years.
CXC and CARICOM’s political leadership need to demonstrate that they understand the cross-roads they are at in the land of public opinion, before it is too late, CXC’s reputation and credibility are irreparably damaged, and this issue becomes an election issue. Perhaps it is the political discourse that is needed to get the attention this crucially important matter deserves.We are proud products of CARICOM and our indigenous education bodies and wish them the very best. CXC and CARICOM need to live up to our reasonable, constructive concerns and expectations; our children deserve the same 21st-century approach to care, consideration, and fairness while maintaining academic rigour, which they see other children obtaining internationally.
Paula-Anne Moore heads the Group of Concerned Parents, Barbados and the Regional Coalition for CXC Exam Redress. -
“‘NO STANDING’
CXC WINS SECOND LEGAL BATTLE AGAINST STUDENTS
The Barbados-based Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has secured another major legal victory over a group of students challenging its exam processes.
On Wednesday, the Court of Appeal rejected the students’ application to appeal a lower court ruling. While sympathising with parents, the court said students lacked jurisdiction to bring the action.
In June 2021, High Court Justice Michelle Weekes struck down a claim by students seeking a judicial review of the 2020 CXC exams and 2021 test format. She ruled the students had no legal standing as CXC is an inter-governmental organisation, not a Barbados government authority. The students then took the case to the appellate court.
CXC’s attorney, Richelle Nichols, said claimants could now seek leave to challenge the latest judgment at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Barbados’ final appeal court.
But, the education ministry’s lawyer, King’s Counsel Roger Forde noted any further action would have to come from the students themselves, no longer minors, to petition the regional court directly.
The students had sought declarations that CXC’s 2020- 21 exam processes for CAPE and CSEC qualifications were unlawful, and orders quashing grades and mandating reviews.
They also wanted injunctions preventing the destruction of 2020 scripts and restraining the 2021 exams pending changes.
It is uncertain if students will continue pursuing the case.
They had additionally sought damages and costs from CXC, the education ministry and the attorney general’s office.
The legal battle stems from the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to the 2020 and 2021 exam cycles for Caribbean secondary and post-secondary qualifications administered by CXC.
The students’ lead attorney, Liesel Weekes, now an acting High Court judge, had given notice of intent to appeal Justice Weekes’s 2021 ruling that CXC was immune from Barbados’ legal processes.
The Court of Appeal has now affirmed that CXC’s intergovernmental status precluded the students’ judicial review claim.
CXC, along with the Barbados government, successfully argued the regional exams body could not be subjected to domestic courts in this matter.
The substantive claims regarding the validity and fairness of CXC’s alternative pandemic exam processes were not evaluated by either the High Court or Court of Appeal due to jurisdictional issues.
CXC and education officials have defended the revised qualification schemes as a necessary response to COVID-19 disruptions while maintaining standards.
(EJ)”Source: Barbados Today
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