Exam decision expected on Monday - Cabinet to give verdict on CSEC/CAPE sittings
Published:Sunday | May 17, 2020 | 12:08 AMJudana Murphy/Gleaner Writer
THE GOVERNMENT is to announce the final decision on the sitting of the 2020 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) by next Monday.
In a virtual meeting held by the Overseas Examinations Commission and the education ministry yesterday, more than 90 per cent of principals voted for an exam sitting in July or August.
Acting Chief Education Officer Dr Kasan Troupe presented psychometric data as the method of deriving grades for Jamaican candidates instead of sitting the paper one examination.
The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) would require academic data of candidates for the last two academic years.
Troupe’s stance was overruled by the voting exercise.
Minister with responsibility for education Karl Samuda noted that the principals’ votes were not the major deciding factor as the health ministry would determine the feasibility of students’ return to school.
A few principals were of the view that schools should close on May 31 to allow for focus to be placed on reintegrating exam students into face-to-face teaching.
School leaders also asserted that given the physical closure of school, facilities can be effectively used in accordance with the social-distancing regime.
Earlier this week, Samuda said Jamaica could not endorse the decision of its CARICOM partners to hold exams in July, owing to the impact that COVID-19 has had on the education sector locally.