The Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, Agriculture and Lands (MEYSAL) announces that 2021 sitting of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examinations will occur between 14 June 2021 and 16 July 2021.
The decision, revealed by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) earlier this month, was made following consultation with the regional Ministries of Education and formed a part of the CXC's wider strategy to ensure that none of the region's children are disenfranchised by the administration of the regional examinations.
Minister for EYSAL Hon. Juliana O'Connor-Connolly lauded the CXC's decision to make changes to the administration of the regional examinations.
"I am pleased that CXC has considered the plight of students throughout the region, providing each candidate with the opportunity to excel in their examinations despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic."
Minister O'Connor-Connolly continued, “As with our counterparts across the region, we have worked to mitigate learning loss due to the pandemic, however, Cayman is in the enviable position across the region to have reconvened onsite learning for our students in August 2020. Many territories within the Caribbean have had to do in-person learning on a rota, or even resorted back to remote learning due to upticks in the COVID-19 numbers in their countries. I am confident that our students will capitalise on the increased learning opportunities brought on by the additional instructional time and expend maximum effort in the upcoming examinations."
In addition to the delayed examination start dates, the regional examination body will share with the Ministry, for communication to candidates, broad topics to be assessed on Paper Two, five weeks before the start of the examinations. The CXC does note, however, that all topics can be assessed in Paper One.
Acting Director of the Department of Education Services (DES), Mrs. Tammy Hopkins, noted that a team from the Ministry of EYSAL and the DES will meet within the coming days to finalise the examination process for local students.
“With the timing of the examinations, results will be returned to territories later than normal. The joint MEYSAL and DES team is currently facilitating meetings with various stakeholders to ensure the transition of our students to the next stage of their education is as seamless as possible. Once the logistics are finalised, students, parents and teachers will all be notified of the processes,” Mrs. Hopkins stated.
Other changes to the 2021 CSEC examinations include a reduced number of SBA practicals/assignments and a modified approach to the implementation of SBAs in line with that outlined in the ‘Treatment of Syllabuses and the School-Based Assessment for Administration of Examinations in 2021 Handbook for Students’ published on the CXC website in 2020.
For more information on the 2021 CSEC examinations or to access the 2021 CSEC timetable, visit CXC's website at www.cxc.org.
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