#BTColumn – Communication, it’s a good thing

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today.

by Paula-Anne Moore

There are myriad issues which have been revealed as sub-optimal in this 2020 CXC exam crisis: the 2020 CSEC and CAPE results, the core output of CXC, which have disadvantaged hundreds of our nation’s children, and thousands regionally; deficiencies in CXC’s grading methodology and SBA moderation process; the use of questions previously in the public arena, which represented the bulk of Paper1; an over-ambitious revised exam structure which required thousands more SBAs to be moderated, which probably overwhelmed the technological and human resource capabilities of the ‘regional educational ecosystem’ already challenged by the pandemic and the role of the likely  algorithm used to assign (some) grades.

A key issue is also the role of the apparent ineffective quality assurance within CXC, which should have identified and proactively managed: any alleged deficiencies in teacher grading of SBAs in prior years; thousands of SBAs which apparently were not received by CXC; and gross discrepancies in some results, at either end of the spectrum, when compared with the historical performance of those schools. These issues, and their management, have fundamentally serious implications re CXC’s competence and credibility.

CXC’s poor communications response, nearly eight weeks into this debacle, only compounds the questions regarding CXC’s competence.

Hard truths are still truths; defensiveness and a refusal to accept ownership of even some of these challenges destroys public trust, which is almost impossible to regain thereafter.

The initial communication during the week of 22 September was incredibly arrogant, tone deaf and callous. “There is nothing wrong; its business as usual”, in the face of a regional outcry of tens of thousands was astonishing, especially when innocent children, already stressed by a pandemic, were those disadvantaged, and who trust us adults to protect them from harm.

The core message of the Press Conference of 19th October was ‘We did nothing wrong’. Clearly, there is a major systemic crisis: there was a 120 per cent increase in the 2020 CAPE review requests up to 18th October, vs 2019.

Two weeks after the release of the Report of the Independent Review Team (IRT), there has been silence in CXC’s public communication. There have been no status updates on the grade review process and very few reviews have been returned, despite CXC’s commitment at the Press Conference to returning these reviews WITHIN ONE WEEK.

Unanswered questions abound. Who is conducting these reviews: the very teachers whose integrity was questioned? What is the estimated time for the review process to be concluded? What is the revised date of CXC’s certification of final grades?

What are CXC’S public disclosure obligations? Was CXC’s grading rubric changed after teachers’ grading of SBAs? What are the qualifications of CXC’s examiners? How will CXC ensure that it will be seen to fairly balance its imperative to prove that it is a credible, competent public examining body, with what should be its central core imperative? How does CXC ensure that these innocent children are not permanently disadvantaged, and effectively punished, due to systemic deficiencies, wherever they originate?

Yes, these children represent a minority of the 2020 candidates. That should not negate their rights to justice. They should not become ‘collateral damage’ as we seek to address national socio-economic disparities.

Excellence in all spheres of human endeavour: sports, creative arts, vocational and academic, must continue to be nurtured as part of our region’s strategic development.

Academic achievement is nothing to feel ashamed of, and still forms a fundamental plank of national development, worldwide.

We must continue to ensure that it is nurtured in our region, along with ensuring ALL of our children are provided with opportunities to develop their strengths, if we wish to sustain our regional competitive advantage and growth.

This current situation has utterly demoralised these negatively impacted children and their teachers, and has long-term implications for them, AND future candidates.

It is essential that CXC engages in much better communication, responsiveness and genuine connection with its stakeholders, which are not just governments, but include teachers, children and parents. We are not adversaries; we share a common goal: the betterment of our beloved region.

The IRT Report included recommendations to improve communications between CXC and its ultimate clients – the public – inclusive of ‘damage control’. This has not happened, and significant public questions remain unanswered nearly eight weeks after the beginning of this crisis.

This lack of communication is a worrying signal of CXC’s credibility, competency and willingness to adhere to 21st century world class best practices as a public examining body. It could be perceived as part of a fundamental breach of CXC’s public obligations.

Extended vacuums of communication can lead to more adversarial roads which should be avoided. We will, however, leave no stone unturned to ensure that justice is done for our children.

The UK 2020 GCSE/A Level Crisis precedent, and its 72-hour resolution, had as an expressly stated objective by the UK education authorities, leniency in the best interest, and to minimise the stress of their adversely affected students. Surely, we will do no less for our own children.

This 2020 CXC crisis is a ‘canary in the coal mine’. ALL of us in the region should be concerned, whether we have children negatively affected or not.

The implications are not just for the adversely affected 2020 candidates. If what was revealed as broken is not fixed, inclusive of communication, 2021 and other future candidates will be adversely affected as well.

Deficiencies will only worsen to the detriment of CXC’S long-term performance and credibility, regionally and internationally.

CXC is sick. CARICOM cannot thrive if CXC, and therefore the education bloodstream of CARICOM, is ailing.

Paula-Anne Moore is a  spokesperson/lead coordinator Concerned Parent Group of Barbados.