By: Chaïra Flanders
Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 25, 2020 (ZIZ News): The Ministry of Education in St. Kitts is working to facilitate preparation support for students who will be sitting CXC CSEC and CAPE examinations in the coming months.
This was announced by Minister of Education, Hon. Shawn K Richards during his address to the nation on Monday May 25.
The Minister’s remarks follow the announcement made by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) which confirmed that students will sit exams in July 2020. CXC also revealed that a modified approach for the regular May/June examinations will determine a student’s final grade based on two components; Paper 1 (Multiple Choice) and School Based Assessments (SBA’s), and Paper 032s (alternative to SBA’s) for private candidates.
He said because of these changes, the Ministry of Education is collaborating with the National COVID-19 Task Force to find the safest and most efficient way to provide direct teacher instruction to students sitting CAPE and CSEC exams.
“We at the Ministry of Education are currently working with the National Taskforce on COVID – 19 towards the issuance of a special provision which would allow students currently registered to sit CSEC and CAPE examinations to receive direct teacher instruction to supplement current virtual education modalities being utilized towards exam preparation. The proposed education provision for students sitting CXC examinations is being made to support the completion of SBA’s and practical components which are required elements of the modified CXC examination approach”, he explained.
Minister Richards also explained that only a specific group of students will be allowed access to schools.
“As such, the proposed special provision for limited use of educational facilities for instruction, will apply only to students identified by their institutions for supplemental exam preparation support. Thus, only students sitting overseas exams will be allowed access to schools and for the sole purposes of completing SBAs or IAs and other examination requirements”, Minister Richards said.
He reminded that CXC has requested 100% submission of SBA’s and IA’s which means that the SBA component is now carrying a heavier weight than in previous years, hence the importance of ensuring direct teacher instruction.
The Education Minister made it clear that only students sitting overseas exams will be allowed access to schools and for the sole purposes of completing SBAs or IAs and other examination requirements.
He firmly stated that all educational institutions in St. Kitts and Nevis will remain closed for regular instruction until further notice.