All reported cases in July 2020 exams will be reviewed – Beckles

EACH FORMALLY reported case of a suspected discrepancy in the results of the July 2020 examinations of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) will be reviewed, and where remedies are required they will be applied.

Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, chairman of the CXC gave this assurance in a release issued yesterday, September 28, one week after the release of the results of the exams.

Since the results were released, parents, students, teachers and schools around the region have been calling for a review, citing numerous discrepancies with grades or specific subject disciplines.

Beckles said concerns raised in the public domain with respect to the efficacy of procedures and systems used by the CXC “in its computation and declaration of student performance data are of great importance to the organisation.”

He said the Registrar, Dr Wayne Wesley, and his team have met with regional Ministers of Education “in order to discuss these concerns and identify the underlying causes with a view to moving forward and providing clarity to our stakeholders and enhanced support.”

The Chairman said CXC is satisfied that Ministers have received explanations for its positions in light of the public discourse.

“It is understood that while there might be policy and technical issues to be addressed immediately, the maintenance of public trust going forward is paramount,” Beckles said.

“There will be ongoing dialogue with regional Ministries of Education based upon the official gathering of data relevant

to all ventilated concerns. Each and every formally reported case will be reviewed and where remedies are required they will be applied,” he said.

“Management at CXC has been impressive in the delivery of the July 2020 regional examinations within the context of the COVID-19 logistics nightmare, and crippling global doubt about revised examinations systems and procedures. I commend the team at CXC for their effort to serve the best they can – the people of our region.

“Nonetheless, it was anticipated that given these specific challenges, a period of review and possible revisions would follow, consistent with the regulations of the Council. It has been agreed, therefore, that an Independent Review Team will shortly begin this work and present a report for discussion with relevant stakeholders,” Beckles said.