St George’s makes history as 1st public school to sit CCSLC exams in Guyana

Sixty-nine students of the St George’s School of Sciences have become the first public institution in Guyana to sit the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) examinations. According to the Education Ministry, this marks a major milestone in Guyana’s efforts to strengthen foundational learning at the secondary level. The examinations commenced on June 10 with students writing English Language and Modern Language. The examinations continued with Mathematics and Social Studies on June 11, Integrated Science on June 12 and Digital Literacy on June 15. The cohort comprised 30 males and 39 females, the Ministry said, adding that St George’s School of Sciences served as the pilot school for the programme and was the first public institution to benefit from preparation and training for the CCSLC, highlighting its implementation at the basic education level (Grades 7-9). National Coordinator of CCSLC, Dr Viola Rowe, said the programme is an important step in strengthening students’ foundational skills and preparing them for continued learning. “The CCSLC is a foundational programme. It provides students with the opportunity to build a core set of skills, knowledge, values, attitudes and competencies,” Dr Rowe said. She explained that the programme is not intended to replace students’ progression through secondary education, but to better prepare them for the upper grades and future certification.

“We want our students to be able to stay in school, be certified, transition to the upper grades, and be engaged in the CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) and CVQ (Caribbean Vocational Qualification) programmes,” she said.
The CCSLC is a competency-based foundational programme developed by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) for students in the lower secondary grades. It focuses on English Language, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Social Studies, Digital Literacy and Modern Language, which may include Spanish, French or Portuguese. Dr Rowe said the programme is expected to help students transition seamlessly to higher levels of study, while also improving their readiness for life and work. She noted that CCSLC places strong emphasis not only on academics, but also on values and attitudes.
“It is more than just the development of skills and knowledge. The focus is also on attitudes, respect for self, respect for others and respect for the environment,” Dr Rowe said. The CCSLC programme uses a modular structure, with five modules for each subject area. Students are assessed through both formative and summative approaches, including School-Based Assessments and external examinations administered by CXC. The grading bands are Developing Competence, Competent and Mastery. Students who successfully complete at least five CCSLC subjects, including English and Mathematics, at the level of Competence or Mastery will receive certification. The Ministry of Education has stated that CCSLC certification supports a seamless transition to CSEC and CVQ programmes, as well as post-secondary vocational training and entry-level employment opportunities.
Dr Rowe said teachers have also recognised the value of the programme, particularly in helping students develop confidence and competence over time. “Teachers are saying that this programme should have been here before, because they have recognised the value of the programme,” she said. She added that while some teachers initially had concerns because the programme was new, there have since been widespread support following training and greater understanding of its purpose. The Ministry of Education, she said, will continue to provide training for teachers who may have missed earlier sessions. Ongoing make-up training is being facilitated to ensure that all schools are fully prepared to deliver the programme effectively. Dr Rowe also commended the students and staff of St George’s School of Sciences, describing the school as an ambassador for the national rollout of CCSLC. “Our students at St George’s School of Sciences are ambassadors. The school has paved the way for other schools to be onboard with CCSLC,” she said.
The next cohort of students is expected to sit the CCSLC examinations in 2027 and will include students from secondary schools across Guyana.