The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has reversed its recent decision to no longer offer Agriculture Science and three other subject areas as CSEC and CAPE exams. Following a wave of public concern across the region, CXC has decided to continue to offer the subjects for examination.
CXC had planned to move away from offering Agricultural Science (Double Award), Mechanical Engineering Technology (CSEC), Green Engineering, and Electrical and Electronic Engineering (CAPE) for exams.
However, during a press conference today, CXC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Registrar, Dr. Wayne Wesley announced the move to rescind the earlier position.
The council has rolled out a menu of new generation technology and science programmes, and while, according to Dr Wesley, some are not yet at the desired demand, governments and the council will partner to build demand for the newly added programmes.
Entrepreneurship, Performing Arts, Physical Education and Sport, Tourism, Animation and Game Design, Logistics and Supply Chain Operations, Digital Media and Financial Services are among the new programmes introduced by CXC.
“Accordingly, today’s deliberations with the Ministers of Education reinforce the need for a collective regional marketing thrust to promote the priority subject areas in STEM education and climate smart agriculture which are considered critical for the economic growth and sustainable development of the region”, the CEO added.
The Ministry of Education, in a press statement, said the Education Minister Priya Manickchand had expressed strong opposition to CXC’s proposed removal of several technical and vocational subjects from its syllabus.
During her meetings with CXC, she made it clear that the Guyanese Government does not support the removal of the identified subjects, as they are crucial for the country’s rapid growth, particularly in the oil, gas, and agriculture sectors. She highlighted that sustainable food investments and skills development are vital for the nation’s future, and dropping these subjects would negatively impact students’ opportunities and the local economy.
Minister Manickchand made Guyana’s objections clear during today’s stakeholders’ meeting with CXC. She also noted that if the subjects were removed, students taking the 2024 and 2025 examinations would be affected.
“The decision to revisit the potential suspension came after a meeting with Ministers of Education from the 16 participating countries, including Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos Islands. During this meeting, strong objections were raised, particularly by Guyana’s Education Minister Priya Manickchand, who highlighted the critical importance of these subjects to the rapid growth in sectors such as oil and agriculture in Guyana,” the Education Ministry said.
It was pointed out by Guyana’s Education Minister that the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has made significant investments in the region in countries like Guyana where six new Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions are being established.
She argued that the decision was tone deaf to the realities of the region.
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