Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw is applauding the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) for leading by example and making critical decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bradshaw said while most international examination bodies awarded grades on the basis of teacher predicted grades, CXC was bold enough to introduce a modified approach to the administration of examinations.
Speaking during today’s media briefing on the official release of the July 2020 examination results, at CXC Headquarters, Pine, St Michael, Bradshaw said an unprecedented step was taken to revise the examination strategy, with the view to ensuring that candidates would be awarded valid grades through the assessment of critical competencies, while minimizing potential disruption in the education system.
She said it was clear, throughout discussions, that the sole intent of CXC was to maintain and preserve the integrity of the examination even as it made adjustments.
Candidates were primarily assessed by their performance in the Multiple-Choice paper 1 which was used as a common paper for all candidates; and the School Based Assessments (SBAs), or the alternative, for private candidates.
Minister Bradshaw indicated that the final grades awarded to students across the region were largely based on moderated SBAs and the multiple-choice papers.
“In other words, with the exception of modern languages, Human and Social Biology, and Visual Arts at the CSEC level, candidates did not have to write the traditional paper 2 this year. While this approach raised concerns in some quarters, CXC addressed this potential deficiency by ensuring improved quality assurance measures were instituted through an expanded moderation process which was conducted across all centres and subjects,” she said.
“The simple aim was to ensure that the validity and reliability of the examination process were maintained. This was supported by the appropriate modelling to take account of historical data and teacher predicted information as well.”
Bradshaw also noted that webinars with United States (US) higher education institutions and international credit credential evaluators, through the facilitation of the US Embassy, were also conducted to ensure that students in the region were not left behind.
She said CXC assured the entities that the modified examinations approach and the rescheduling of examinations to July/August would have had no adverse impact on the quality or timely return of grades for students seeking to matriculate into US colleges and universities.
“Prior to COVID-19, CXC had embarked on a strategic direction for regional examinations which involved greater use of technology in the administration of its processes, and more so the administration of examinations, especially with the roll out of E-testing.
“Just as some level of flexibility was introduced to accommodate members to develop pathways to participate in the E-Testing modality, COVID-19 struck which presented both challenges and indeed opportunities,” the Minister said.
Bradshaw said while the Barbados Government is investing significant finances to ensure that all students have access to technological devices during the upcoming school year, the Ministry of Education will be better positioned to accelerate the expansion of E-Testing by June 2021.
anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb
