BSTU, BUT criticise CXC for not budging on 2022 exam dates

The island’s two main teachers’ unions are warning that the Caribbean Examinations Council’s (CXC) insistence on pressing ahead with the 2022 exams may lead to students not excelling this year.

The Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU), one of the strident voices in calls for delaying the exams which are scheduled to begin May 2, said students could end up with grades that shut them out of university and scholarships.

The BSTU, the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT), and student-parent advocate Paula Anne Moore are contending that the exams should be delayed because students are ill-prepared to sit the tests at this time, due to the learning disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years.

However, CXC made it clear on Thursday that it had no intention of rescheduling the tests, saying that any further delay would negatively impact the date for the release of results, which would, in turn, affect candidates’ ability to meet the matriculation period for entering universities.

But the BSTU has dismissed that argument. It said the refusal to delay the exams on behalf of an unprepared cohort of students is what could adversely affect the outcome of their tests.

“In relation to university admission and scholarships, the fact that the students are not sufficiently prepared, do not feel confident, and will most likely, as a result, not perform at their best to either achieve the grade or gain entrance into the universities of choice or even win the scholarship that they seek, negates CXC’s argument on these matters,” BSTU president Mary Redman told Barbados TODAY.

“In too many instances, students have not been able to satisfactorily complete the various subject syllabi or do the practice papers of mock finals that normally form a major part of preparation for the exam. The mad scramble this year to be ready creates further stress, frustration and, for some, has resulted in detachment from the whole exercise.”.

The union leader pointed out that the regional exam body had delayed tests in 2020 and 2021 and even released the broad topics on which the exams would be based, without the students being disadvantaged in their preparations.

Responding to CXC’s argument that changing the dates of the exams would “destabilise the regional consensus” reached several months ago by representatives of participating governments, Redman said: “CXC is hiding behind the excuse of regional consensus of governments, so as not to be inconvenienced by the need to do right by our children. They continue to be inflexible, unimaginative and lacking in both vision and caring – all of this underscored by a stubbornness and an arrogance at the highest level.”

The BSTU president also suggested that it may be time for the Ministry of Education to look at switching to an alternative exam body and parting ways with CXC.

The BUT, meantime, described the decision to press ahead with the tests as unfortunate and expressed the fear that the students could suffer unnecessarily from possible downgraded results because of their unpreparedness.

President Rudy Lovell, who was re-elected to the BUT’s top position earlier on Friday, said it was unfortunate that CXC had ignored the cries of unions, teachers, students, and parents.

He added that he was doubtful that excellence would be achieved in this year’s exams.

“CXC’s role is to certify academic excellence and one wonders if this will be the case this year, given the fact that students are ill-prepared,” Lovell told Barbados TODAY.

“The response given by CXC that the postponement of the examinations this year will affect the placement of students into universities and colleges is absurd. Examinations were held much later previously and students were placed into universities and colleges.”

“As for the regional consensus reached some months ago, Education Ministers need to be reminded that they were elected by the parents of the children sitting examinations to provide the best care possible to their children,” Lovell added.

He further called for an urgent review of CXC policy as it relates to examinations and school disruptions.

Student-parent advocate Paula Anne Moore lashed out at CARICOM’s Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), accusing it of “once again” providing cover to CXC while using the children and teachers’ mental and emotional well-being as collateral damage.

“The philosophical goal of ‘regional consensus’ is more important than exhibiting care and concern for our flesh and blood children. Our CARICOM project has once again failed our children,” Moore told Barbados TODAY.

Comparing CXC’s approach to other exam bodies, she added: “Cambridge kept their 2022 exam dates but broad topics were provided to students and teachers months prior and an undertaking to mark more generously was provided. Also, the UK started their 2021/2022 academic year on time and were [finished] long before most CARICOM  schools.”

Moore reiterated her stance that very little in practical terms had been provided by CXC to aid students and teachers in the 2022 exams.

“Ministers of Education, you need to challenge COHSOD to address the concerns of the students and teachers of the Caribbean where CXC is concerned, with dutiful assiduity. If that fails, it is time enough to step out of your insular comfort zones and represent the children by all necessary and sufficient means.

“No care and concern for our children exhibited by our regional political leadership and the general public. Shame on us all!” Moore declared.
emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb