Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) kickstarted on Monday across the country.
During a Zoom engagement with students from across the country, caretaker Education Minister, Nicolette Henry stated that she recognised the ardent efforts of the students, teachers, parents, and guardians for their preparation to facilitate the sitting of the examinations.
Students during the examination
She also noted that the exams are being written at an unprecedented and challenging time and yet students, teachers, and other stakeholders have exhibited great resilience and adaptability to ensure maximum preparation for the examinations.
The two exams, CSEC and CAPE, are being written from July 13 – August 4 and July 13-31, respectively. For CSEC, there are 168 centres with 11,998 students registered to write that exam. While for CAPE, 851 candidates are registered to write at 15 centres across the country.
The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) took a decision to administer the examinations in a different format this year owing to the coronavirus pandemic affecting countries globally. Grades will now be awarded utilising the moderated SBAs and Paper One (1).
The MoE stated that students, teachers, and persons are permitted to be in the school compound but are required to wear a face mask at all times. Additionally, handwashing and sanitising must be done at the entrance of the school.
The students are required to be two (2) metres or six (6) feet apart from each other at all times. The MoE explained that playing and gathering are prohibited, and that no permission was granted for outside vending at schools to ensure the safety and wellness of everyone.
Also, temperature testing is mandatory, and Education officers will be visiting schools across the country to ensure that there is full compliance with the order.
Meanwhile, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), Dr Wayne Wesley wished the candidates all the best in their examinations while reassuring them that the Council’s number one priority is the health and safety of all candidates and stakeholders.
Following the announcement of the dates for these examinations, a number of stakeholders have come to the fore expressing great concerns with the dates. The first stakeholder to express great dismay with the dates on behalf of teachers across Guyana was President of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), Mark Lyte.
Lyte said the GTU membership believes that the timeline for the examinations is too soon since there is no decrease in the spread of the novel coronavirus in Guyana.
Additionally, the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) had weighed in on the issue expressing their concerns about the move to have the exams written at such short notice. APA had said it is very concerned about Indigenous and hinterland students who have been heavily impacted by the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic. (G1)
