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Poll: CXC students struggling to cope

by Anesta Henry
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Students preparing to sit this year’s Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) examinations as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, are crying out that they have reached their breaking point.

The results of a survey circulating on social media titled The Voice of The Students have indicated that 94 per cent of 630 students who participated reported that the pressure of online school and preparing for the examination has been affecting their mental health.

Students lamented that without a doubt, COVID-19 has changed their learning environments and learning patterns and some noted that they have not yet been able to adapt because of the sudden changes.

A spokesperson for the group that organised the survey told Barbados TODAY: “When the students were asked how they deal with the stress from CXC and the conditions that we are going through, the responses were concerning. Some said they talk to therapists, some said they cry, but the majority said they don’t deal with the stress at all.”

Several students pointed out that they believed it would be difficult to perform to the best of their ability under the present conditions with one predicting a “higher failing grade than last year”.

“Everybody is going to get terrible marks in CAPE and feel even more demotivated and stressed out,” one student said.

“I and my fellow classmates talked and some of us have given up because of the  stress and really don’t care and the others don’t feel confident that they will get good grades and they feel sad because these grades determine their future,” another student commented.

Meanwhile, one student added: “Due to our unfamiliarity with the Paper 2 examination at CAPE, I feel that there is going to be much panic within the actual examination room. Practice past papers all you want, it will not prepare you for the actual experience. This may cause poorer results than usual, in my opinion. Long answers may also not be done as well due to the concepts taught using techniques for online school, being generally less effective for students’ info retention and internalization.”

Additionally, the students who participated in the survey suggested that despite all the commotion from the controversial 2020 examination results,  students are willing to only take Paper 1 along with being graded for the School-Based Assessments (SBAs). In the survey, 56.4 per cent stated that they preferred to be marked on Paper 1 and the SBAs, while others chose different alternatives.

The 2020 May/June examinations were altered in line with COVID-19 protocols imposed by the government. Paper 2, known as the long paper, was removed by CXC. Students were given the multiple choice Paper 1 and were graded on that along with the SBA.

One of the organizers of the survey indicated that that strategy proved efficient until the tests were graded when the marking system was revised. Students protested demanding a revision of the grading.

The spokesperson said the survey shows that students believe CXC was being unreasonable in giving them all three components for this year’s examinations as though the pandemic was nonexistent. The students also suggest that the examining body should take more time to reconsider their choices, and take students’ thoughts and opinions into consideration.

“I personally don’t think they [examinations] should be cancelled, but just altered to suit basic requirements for minimizing the risk of catching COVID, along with providing reassurance for students, since the online learning clearly isn’t doing much justice for students.

“Overall, we believe the students’ mental and physical health are being neglected. In normal circumstances, we wouldn’t mind doing both papers but last year showed the students were able to adapt to the change, whereas CXC struggled,” the spokesperson said.

Students believe they should be represented in educational bodies, to contribute to gathering information and giving feedback aimed at improving the overall standards of the regional examining body.
(anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb)

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