Jamaica is now weighing its options for this year’s Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) exams following last year’s problem-plagued exams, where the grading system came into question from students and teachers from across the region.

Education Minister, Fayval Williams, says her ministry is now in dialogue with the regional examination body and has conducted consultations with key local stakeholders on the five options suggested as modifications to the administration of the 2021 CXC sittings.

She reported that, “the options were evaluated as valid and reliable and should not affect the credibility of the grade attained by the students. It will however, require more work on the part of CXC for the preparation and administration of the exams.”

The first option being considered is full administration of the exam (in its original format) in May/June 2021 and for candidates who are not able to sit in 2021 to be accommodated in 2022. The second option is full administration in June/July 2021 and candidates, who are not able to sit in 2021, to be accommodated in 2022.

Option three is a modified approach, which would take place in June/July 2021 (Paper One, moderated School-based Assessments (SBAs) or Paper 032, psychometric modelling and teacher predicted scores where necessary), and for candidates who are not able to sit in 2021, to be accommodated in 2022.

Jamaica’s preferred option

Option fourth option, which the Education Minister indicated is the Jamaica’s preferred choice, is the administration of Paper One, Paper Two (with optional questions) and the SBAs offered in June/July. Candidates who are not able to sit the examination in 2021 will be accommodated in 2022.

Option five involves the administration of one paper to include both multiple-choice and essay type questions in June/July 2021. Candidates who are not able to sit in 2021 will be accommodated in 2022.

Williams stated that all five options were evaluated against four variables. The first being logistical management, which involves paper custody management, invigilation, marking, and grading, while the second is administration, including marking and results in release processing time.

The third variable of integrity preservation entails maintaining trust and confidence in the award of valid grades while the final variable considered is education system disruption, which looks at matriculation/progression, and the start of the academic year.

Addressing the Jamaica Independent Schools Association’s (JISA) National Parent and Guardian Association Conference, which was held via Zoom, the Education Minister assured stakeholders that the Ministry continues to assist CXC as well as the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) students to prepare for the examinations.

This is being done through the provision of audio-visual learning opportunities, learning kits, online learning, and access to the ministry’s mobile app. Meanwhile, Williams lauded JISA for staging the conference, which brought together, representatives from private schools with parents and guardians, to discuss matters relating to these institutions.