Nearly 1,000 parents/guardians attended a virtual meeting with the Education Minister Priya Manickchand and senior ministry officials yesterday to discuss concerns about the way forward for fifth- and sixth-form level students who are due to sit Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exams next year.
Manickchand explained to them that the council has had a number of meetings with her and the education ministry where it indicated that it fully intends to go ahead with the exams but has not decided when it would be administered and how. She hinted that it is considering using a Paper I, Paper II and School-Based Assessments (SBAs) to determine the final grades, unlike the method used this year.
Superintendent of Examinations Sauda Kadir-Grant said that payment for subjects must be done by late November/early December. She noted a subsidy will be granted depending on the parental income or recommendation for subject. She said that schools will be given the applications.
The minister was questioned about uniform vouchers and cash grants. She said that the uniform voucher will now be $4,000, twice the amount it was last year. She also said that next year a cash grant of $15,000 will be given for students.
Manickchand told parents that her ministry is currently working on ensuring the schools are prepared for reopening, that is, ensuring that they have the required sanitisation facilities necessary for students to sanitise and properly follow precautionary measures. She pleaded with parents to do their part in ensuring that students understand the seriousness of their health and safety.
Some of the other concerns raised by parents were whether the ministry would be providing transportation for students to commute to and from school, whether students would be provided with material to participate in the blended approach of learning and to complete SBAs, and about the quality of teaching that is being offered considering that many teachers are also unable to be a part of the online approach.
A parent raised a concern about the quality of teaching the students are receiving. The parent said that the students have been at home since their fourth year of high school. The parent explained that the students are at a disadvantage and suggested that June 2021 might be too soon for the students to sit the exam. To this, the minister said that the Ministry has been very clear that as much time as is needed is being considered. She said that the CXC has considered shifting the exams to January 2022 instead of administrating any exams next year, while it has also considered requiring fewer SBAs so students can be prepared for exams next year.
She said the MoE will be using a blended approach to ensure students nationwide will benefit equally. Manickchand said that in doing so, the fifth formers will be taught virtually and with face-to-face sessions as needed, which is why preparation of schools is very important.
One student who participated in the meeting raised his concerns about the psychological effects COVID-19 has had on students. The minister assured that the Ministry is considering this and has decided to have a diagnostic inquiry done on the effects the pandemic has had on the students and their studies. The student also asked about those who are still awaiting responses concerning their acceptance to start sixth form. The ministry assured that these students would be contacted soon.
