Seminars for journalists and guidance counsellors

The Council hosted two one-day stakeholder seminars on 5th and 6th March for two important stakeholder groups. The seminar on 5th March was for journalists from Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS); while the seminar on 6th March was for guidance counsellors from Barbados and the OECS.

The goal of the seminar for journalists was to provide journalists around the region with information pertaining to CXC and its products and services to enable them to better report on stories related to CXC and its examinations from a position of knowledge and an adequate understanding of the CXC system.

Twenty-seven journalists from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago attended the seminar

The goal of the seminar for the guidance counsellors was to provide them with accurate and up-to-date information relating to CXC and its products and services which will empower them to offer better advice students about the choices they make in school.

Thirty-two guidance counsellors from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines attended the seminar.

During the two days, participants learnt about the CXC strategic direction, the CXC qualifications framework, issues relating to examinations administration, structure and governance of CXC and the recognition of CXC qualifications internationally.

Tertiary Education Institutions Meeting

CXC hosted a meeting for education stakeholders from tertiary institutions across the region. The purpose of the conference was to:

• Apprise stakeholders of CXC products and services
• Hear views on the quality of students with CXC qualifications
• Clarify the engagement of personnel in CXC activities

Webinar on Examinations Preparations

A one-hour webinar entitled CXC Examinations - Dos and Don’ts was hosted on Tuesday 24th April. Representatives from the Examinations Administration and Security Division and the Examinations Development and Production Division facilitated the webinar, which was streamed live on www.cxc.org.

A second webinar was hosted on Thursday 4th October involving Mr Solomon Claxton, Local Registrar for St Kitts and Nevis, who was visiting CXC Headquarters in Barbados. The webinar looked at all CXC qualifications and discussed examinations administration issues.

Global Opportunity Seminar – St Lucia

CXC partnered with the National Youth Council of St Lucia, author Lovely Sheridan and Artist Jonathan Gladdings in hosting two seminars for young people in St Lucia entitled “Global Opportunities.” The seminars were held in Castries and Vieux Fort and over 300 secondary school students attended.

Meetings with stakeholders in St Lucia re introduction of CAPE

A team from CXC visited St Lucia as guest of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) from 26th to 29th June. The main objective of the visit was to interact with various stakeholders to provide information on CAPE as SALCC has taken a decision to introduce CAPE from 2013.

During the visit, the CXC team comprising Dr Gordon Harewood, SAR (EDPD), Cherryl Stephens, AR (CSD) and Cleveland Sam AR (PI and CS) held several meetings with various stakeholders. The first was a high-level meeting with the Minister of Education, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SALCC, Deputy Principal of SALCC and the leadership of the Ministry of Education. The team met with the SALCC Board of Governors; Deans and lecturers from SALCC; a group comprising representatives from secondary schools, Ministry of the Civil Service, Catholic Board; Secondary Schools Principals’ Association and the SDA Mission; Deans and lecturers; and with both faculty and other staff. The team also participated in two town hall meetings and two media appearances.

Meetings with stakeholders in the Virgin Islands (UK) re CSEC

A two-member team visited the Virgin Islands (UK) from 28th May to 1st June at the invitation of the Ministry of Education. The main goal of the visit was to interact with education stakeholders to provide information in respect of the government’s initiative to make CSEC the terminal examination for secondary schools in the territory.

During the four-day visit, the team was involved in several meetings with various stakeholders. These included: Meeting with Secondary School Principals and Education Officers; Meeting with Principal and Department Heads, H Lavity Stoutt College; Meeting with the Leader of Opposition and Opposition Parliamentarians; Meeting with fourth and fifth forms teachers; Public Town Hall Meetings on Tortola and Virgin Gorda; Meeting with secondary school teachers and students of Virgin Gorda.

Meetings with education stakeholders in Anguilla and Grenada in relation to CPEA

As part of the implementation of the CPEA, a number of stakeholder engagements were held in pilot territories, Anguilla, Grenada and Dominica. Additionally, meetings were held with parents, teachers and students in the four schools in Jamaica where the CPEA stakeholders in Jamaica.