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JTA President Leighton Johnson
By Prince Moore
The Overseas Examinations Commission has sought to provide clarity on what it says is the premature release of information about the discontinuation of some CXC subjects, which has sparked concern among education stakeholders.
On Monday, Radio Jamaica news was informed that the regional exams body would discontinue certifications for Mechanical Engineering at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate, CSEC and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination, CAPE levels.
Radio Jamaica News was also informed that CXC would halt exam offerings for Agricultural Science, Double Award.
That information sparked concerns from the Jamaica Teachers' Association, which called for clarity on the move.
It also called for CXC and the Education Ministry to outline a plan to cushion possible fallouts for educators and students.
But the OEC says a correspondence from CXC's office was directed to Dr. Kasan Troupe, Permanent Secretary in Jamaica's Ministry of Education, regarding the suspension of subjects and was copied to the OEC for information purposes.
It says the Ministry was affected by the untimely release of the information and would have had the option to decide on a course of action, based on consultations with key stakeholders such as principals and other operatives of the ministry.
The OEC says a decision has not yet been made whether to remove the subjects from Jamaica's secondary schools' curriculum.
The Commission further advises that the Ministry will be meeting with stakeholders ahead of the new academic year and will ensure a consensus in the best interest of the nation's youth.
CXC has advised that particular territories or groups of territories across the Region may decide to maintain the subjects as a part of the certification options for exit exams, under certain conditions.
JTA concerned
The Jamaica Teachers Association, in its response to the issue, said the subjects being considered for removal from the CXC curriculum are critical to the nation's development.
JTA President Leighton Johnson is urging the Ministry of Education to insist that students continue to be assessed and certified in these subject areas.
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