The Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) notes, and with great disquiet, that the timetable for the sitting of the CSEC and CAPE examinations has been released. This strongly suggests that normality has returned to the region and the lives of its citizens. However, this is not the reality on the grounds.
It must not be disregarded that many of our regional educational systems have been grappling with the upheaval caused by the pandemic and are now actively trying to mitigate the learning loss that has accrued. In some regions, ministries, have as part of their challenge to find the students who are no longer engaged and also try to restore equity and maintain quality standards.
The release of the CSEC and CAPE timetable at this time severely undermines the tremendous efforts being made by stakeholders to treat with the new normal demands.
As yet, there is no suggestion from the examining body as to what concession and/or modification it has made to the examination or content and leaves us to wonder if the plight of the region's students, teachers, principals, and parents were taken into serious consideration before the timetable was set and released.
We, the CUT urge the examining body to (1) delay the timetable by three (3) weeks to allow sufficient time for the teachers and students to complete the syllabi and satisfy the school-based assessment component, (2) reduce SBA requirements, especially for subjects with a practical component and (3) advise of the topics to be covered by the examination. Further, the CUT requests a meeting with COSHOD to further examine some recommendations resulting from consultation with our members.
As a region, we seek to rebuild stronger and with the ability to withstand shocks, such glaring discrepancies and uncertainties which came to the fore in the midst of the pandemic must not be repeated and every effort must be made to spare our, now vulnerable stakeholders from being victims of circumstance.
The CUT stands resolute to defend its members and guard against unfairness
and inequity.
