President Donald Ramotar yesterday stated that the date for general and regional elections will remain May 11, and that adequate systems will be put in place so that they will not disrupt CSEC examinations also scheduled for the same day.
“In regard to the concern that students who are scheduled to sit CXC exams on May 11 will be affected, please note that the Ministry of Education will put adequate systems in place to ensure students are able to sit their exams without disruption by the day’s election activities,” Ramotar posted on his Facebook page yesterday.
The Ministry of Education later released a statement saying it was finalising plans for the smooth execution of the examinations.
“The Ministry of Education is cognisant that there exists among some parents and candidates some concerns about the CSEC and CAPE examinations,” it said, before adding that details will be forthcoming as the ministry finalises its plans for the sitting of the CSEC and CAPE examinations on May 11.
According to the statement, the best interest of the candidates was integral. “The Ministry wishes to assure all its stakeholders and all citizens that every consideration is being given to the smooth and effective sitting of the 2015 CSEC and CAPE examinations and as such, is in consultations with the Caribbean Examinations Council and other stakeholders to discuss and derive a suitable plan, one that is in the best interest of the candidates,” it added.
The Caribbean Examinations Council website lists Agricultural Science and Theatre Arts as the subjects to be written on the morning of May 11, while Electrical and Electronic Technology and Food and Nutrition are to be taken in the afternoon.
A source at the Ministry of Education told Stabroek News the ministry is analysing options to determine how to advise the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) accordingly. It is examining if primary schools will be used as polling stations or, depending on the amount of students sitting the specified examinations, whether students would use primary schools as their examination centres and the secondary schools as polling stations.
