Jamaican students worried about impact on their exams

The Barbados-based Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has launched an investigation into the leaking of its Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Math Paper 02, which was written by students across the region yesterday.

In a brief statement on the matter, CXC says it had been made “aware of the concerns” that the examination had been “leaked,” adding, “this matter is of great concern to the organisation, investigations have commenced and a definitive statement will be made once the investigation is completed.”

CXC, which was established in 1972 under an Agreement by the participating governments in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), provides regional and internationally recognised secondary school leaving examinations relevant to the needs of the region.

In seeking to calm fears, the regional exam body advises, “In the meantime, candidates can rest assured that this matter is being treated with the highest urgency.” 

Concerns being raised in Jamaica 

In the meantime, Jamaican students, who sat the exam yesterday and their principals are worried about their results after learning that the paper was leaked. Principal of Excelsior High School, Deanroy Bromfield acknowledged having heard of the leak but emphasized that it did not have any impact on the examination process at his school.

He is awaiting the outcome of the investigation from the CXC. A similar view was shared by the Principal of Penwood High School, Omar Largie. Largie, who said that his students were unaware of the exam breach. It is being reported that Jamaica’s CSEC mathematics passes have been trending down over the last four years, falling to a dismal 37% pass rate last year. In 2021, 38.2% of Jamaican candidates attained passing grades of one to three, falling from 61.2% in 2020 and 54.6% in 2019.