MoE remains committed to ensuring students receive final CXC grades
The Examinations Department of the Ministry of Education remains committed to ensuring all students receive their final grades from the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) for their 2020 examinations.
In a response to a letter published on Saturday, February 6, 2021 in sections of the media titled “We urge Ministry of Education to ensure release of official CSEC, CAPE results”, Senior Education Officer, Ameer Ali who is performing the duties of Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO) Examinations, deemed the contents of the letter as “grossly inaccurate and misleading”.
He stated that while the Ministry understands the frustration of both parents and students alike about the delayed results, they must be cognisant of the fact the Ministry is not responsible for reviewing and issuing CXC results. In his letter, he explained that the Examinations Council is the sole body responsible and for the Ministry to release an official statement on the top performers would be reckless and premature.
“An official release by the Ministry of Education cannot be done until the review process is completed by CXC, and this process is ongoing. Additionally, top performers cannot be officially determined and released due to this incomplete process. Under ordinary circumstances the Ministry would let the nation know of the unofficial results as soon as they get them in or around August of every year. This year however, almost as soon as the results were announced there was mass complaints and the Ministry announced that it would hold its hand as it worked with CXC to have the students’ queries addressed and answered,” Mr Ali wrote.
The Education Official noted that from the inception of the process, the Ministry has been providing constant updates and advice to those involved in the process. He added that the Education Minister herself, has been engaging the Council on the timely release of grades.
“So, to say the Ministry is silent, indifferent is totally untrue, inaccurate and perhaps mischievous.”
Mr. Ali noted that while the Ministry is currently awaiting an official release from CXC, students have received their grade changes through CXC’s student portal, which each student can access.
CXC is still in the process of reviews having completed approximately 96 per cent of reviews Caribbean-wide. The Council had initially committed to completing all reviews by the end of January but was unable to do so as a result of its headquarters being placed on lockdown due to COVID-19. Mr. Ali gave the assurance that the Education Ministry is working closely with CXC to bring the process to a timely conclusion and to ensure there is no recurrence of the situation.