Parents group demands CXC reform after exam debacle

The Caribbean Coalition for Exam Redress has called for urgent reform of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) following a series of administrative failures that left students struggling during recent examinations. 

The advocacy group’s demands come in the wake of a furniture shortage that delayed this month’s sitting of the Mathematics examination and last-minute changes to the Spanish oral exam dates.

Paula-Anne Moore, spokesperson and coordinator for the coalition that also includes the Group of Concerned Parents of Barbados, condemned what she termed “callous cruelty” and a “lack of empathy” from exam administrators.

“The provision of sufficient furniture for exam candidates is something that is basic to exam administration. How in the Year of Our Lord 2025 could something so unconscionable be happening?” Moore questioned. She highlighted the stress placed on students, some of whom “have to leave home extremely early to prepare for the exam, to get there in good time and then you’re now talking about delays of hours.”

The group also criticised a sudden change to the Spanish oral exam date, which was brought forward by ten days with little notice, leaving candidates scrambling to prepare.

Moore called on parents to “insist on what our children deserve, fair empathetic [treatment]” and urged Prime Minister Mia Mottley, as chair of CARICOM, to commit to a comprehensive review of CXC’s practices. The coalition is pushing for “a fundamental change in CXC governance, inclusive of external independent regulation”, a demand she said the group has made consistently for five years.

The parents’ group pointed to a history of criticism against CXC, including from child rights expert Faith Marshall-Harris and UNICEF representatives. Moore stressed the need for accountability and proper independent external oversight, stating: “Clearly what we’re doing is not working and our children are paying the price.”

She underscored the lack of accountability and the shifting of responsibilities when problems occur.

Moore said: “The responsibility for CXC exam administration in the regional ‘education ecosystem’ is a joint one between CXC and the respective CARICOM Ministries of Education. There is too much convenient avoidance and shifting of responsibility when these too frequently recurring problems occur. Where is the accountability and real change? Does the public just passively accept the status quo, silent due to fear of retaliation? Who is responsible? Who is accountable?? Is exam admin not the bread and butter of the Ministry of Education?” (LG)