The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has moved to reconsider its decision to suspend syllabi for four technical subject areas.

This decision follows a meeting on Tuesday (June 4), between regional education ministers and CXC representatives to address concerns surrounding the move announced by the examinations body.

The subject areas are Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) Green Engineering, CAPE Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology, Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Agricultural Science (Double Award), and CSEC Industrial Technology [Mechanical Engineering option].

The examination body in earlier weeks cited low registration and economic costs as reasons for the discontinuation.

CXC Registrar Dr Wayne Wesley said: “The meeting with the Ministers of Education demonstrated our shared commitment to find a ‘critical path forward’ on this matter, given the pressing education and human capacity development imperatives facing the region (sic).”

Wesley further explained that the ministers were forthright in their positions, pledging their support for the CXC and more direct lines of communication with the CXC. 

The meeting led to the following positions: 

• The Caribbean Examinations Council will continue to offer syllabuses for CAPE Green Engineering, CAPE Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology, CSEC Agricultural Science (Double Award), and CSEC Industrial Technology—the Mechanical Engineering option.

• CXC has rolled out a menu of new-generation technology and science syllabuses. Some are not yet in desired demand. Governments will work with CXC to build demand for these new programs to enable their cost viability.

• Ministers of education reinforced the need for a collective regional marketing thrust to promote the priority subject areas in Science-Technology-Engineering-Art-Mathematics (STEAM) education and climate-smart agriculture, which are considered critical for the economic growth and sustainable development of the region.

• CXC is committed to ensuring its communications protocols afford the ministers of education a greater line of sight of high-level policy recommendations for decision-making.

Wesley added that the Caribbean Examinations Council is deeply “committed to the educational and human capital development of the region, and we will work with all our stakeholders to achieve our vision to advance the fortunes of our region”.