Parents call for pause as CXC plans full digital rollout of exams

The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) plans to move all secondary school assessments online within the next five years, signalling a major shift in how exams are delivered across the region. 

However, a parent advocacy group is calling for the process to be paused until the system is properly tested and resourced.

Registrar and CEO of CXC, Dr Wayne Wesley, outlined the organisation’s vision during a virtual press conference on Wednesday.

This month, for the first time, approximately 10 000 candidates are sitting CXC examinations using a combination of digital and hybrid electronic assessment methods.

“It is our intention to offer all examinations digitally in the next three to five years.

“Over 10 000 candidates are currently sitting the January 2026 CSEC examinations. These examinations commenced this past Monday and will conclude on 29 January…. We are pleased to say that we are administering these January examinations, employing our digital e-assessment and hybrid e-assessment approaches,” Wesley stated.

But spokesperson for the Group of Concerned Parents, Paula-Ann Moore, has strongly opposed the expanded rollout, citing what she described as major setbacks experienced by students during this month’s exams.

Moore said concerns about inadequate technological infrastructure are not new, pointing to problems dating back to 2022.

“We know that during the pandemic, there were challenges also with the IT structure as it related to the online modality and that manifested in a number of schools with the e-testing for the Paper 1, as it related to insufficient devices,” she said.

Moore explained that since there were not enough devices at the testing sites to do the exams, the candidates took turns using the devices to do their Maths and English Language exams.

She said parents in Barbados and Trinidad have again raised alarm following delays during the current hybrid examinations.

“A child was at the community testing site from 6 a.m. because he was trying to avoid the traffic,” she said referring to the plight of students in Trinidad who travelled far to get to their exams on time. 

Moore noted that parents were not informed of the long delay.

“A parent told me on Monday it was two hours, Tuesday it was a three-hour delay,” she disclosed. 

Moore warned that without proper piloting and infrastructure upgrades, the situation could worsen significantly during the traditional May/June examination period, which involves far larger cohorts.

“Some children had a 9 a.m. test. They didn’t sit down and do the test until 2 p.m… if in that smaller cohort we’re having these problems, can you imagine the disaster that we’re looking at for the May/June session, especially for the subjects that have a much larger number of students taking them, like the math and the English again. Enough is enough,” Moore said.

“I am calling on CARICOM. I am calling on the national political leadership to say ‘No, we are not doing this until we pilot tests and we ensure that each and every school has the resources that are needed’, so that the test can be rolled out smoothly and our children are not disadvantaged.”

Meanwhile, Wesley said CXC is already preparing for the next phase.

“Immediately after this January session of examinations, we will start preparing to serve the over 100 000 candidates who will… sit over 600 000 CSEC and CAPE subject entries in the traditional May/June examinations,” he said.

Moore criticised what she described as ongoing callousness in the administration of regional examinations.

“They say that they have a duty of care. But the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and we’re not seeing it manifested in the process…. Call it what you will, callousness, call it incompetence, but we should not be accepting this.”