Logistics and Supply Chain Operations Added to CAPE

When sixth-formers return to school in the next few days, they will have the option of selecting logistics and supply-chain operations as a subject in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

In a release on its website, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) said that it was pleased to offer the new CAPE syllabus for which teaching starts this month.

"Institutions offering these subjects should make note of the effective dates of the first examinations and be guided accordingly," the release said.

CXC has also said that the new logistics and supply-chain operations syllabus would be effective for examination in May and June of 2016.

The syllabus is arranged into two units, each made up of three modules. Unit one covers the fundamentals of logistics and supply-chain, while unit two covers shipping and port operations.

The syllabus was developed by the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI). In an interview with The Gleaner, Executive Director Dr Fritz Pinnock said that the development of the syllabus was part of the thrust of the institution to expand its reach.

Seeking university status

The CMI is currently seeking university status and is to be rebranded as the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU).

"We have not been selfish in our expansion. We have been sharing our knowledge, and CMI has developed a new subject for CXC. Two new units for CAPE, being launched in September, (were) developed right here at CMI by my team. It's a new course in logistics and supply-chain operations and the second module is in commercial shipping," he said.

Pinnock also told The Gleaner that the maritime institute had been partnering with the Mico University College to train teachers in the subject area.

"We are collaborating with Mico to train teachers to deliver these courses. A lot of teachers can't get jobs, but there is still demand for some specialised teachers, so Mico is on board with us," he said.

The introduction of the new subject by CXC is in keeping with its mandate to provide subjects relevant to the economies of the region.

The regional examination body last year introduced five new subjects.

The subjects were formally launched in the CARICOM countries best recognised in those areas. The subjects included tourism, agricultural science, entrepreneurship, performing arts, and physical education and sport.

CXC has said it is developing syllabuses in the subject areas of green engineering, and animation and game design.