Parents advocate presses for CXC governance reform

An advocate for students and parents has suggested that external pressure may be necessary to persuade Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders to implement improved governance measures for the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).

Paula-Anne Moore, who is spokesperson/coordinator of the Group of Concerned Parents, Barbados and the Caribbean Coalition for Exam Redress, revealed that her team has long been campaigning for CARICOM to incorporate an expert, external independent regulator into the governance structure. This position was endorsed in 2021 by the then minister of education, Santia Bradshaw.

Moore highlighted a recent call by Italy’s alternate temporary governor of the Caribbean Development Bank for improved governance at the CDB. “Perhaps it takes a change agent external to the CARICOM management to see what is clear to the rest of us,” she remarked.

Her comments come in the wake of last week’s court ruling which handed the Barbados-based CXC a second significant victory over a group of students challenging its examination processes.

The Court of Appeal rejected the students’ application to appeal a lower court ruling. Whilst expressing sympathy for the parents, the court stated that the students lacked jurisdiction to bring the action.

In June 2021, High Court Justice Michelle Weekes dismissed a claim by students seeking a judicial review of the 2020 CXC examinations and 2021 test format. 

She ruled that the students had no legal standing, as CXC is an inter-governmental organisation, not a Barbados government authority. The students subsequently took the case to the appellate court.

Richelle Nichols, CXC’s attorney, indicated that the claimants could now seek leave to challenge the latest judgment at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Barbados’ final court of appeal. (EJ)