||Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC)
The Caribbean Examinations council (CXC) was established in 1972 by an Agreement among 15 English speaking Commonwealth Caribbean Countries and Territories. It has its headquarters in Barbados.
CXC’s objectives are to: provide regionally and internationally recognised secondary school leaving examinations relevant to the needs of the Region; assist in Common Entrance and other types of examinations; produce teaching materials and train teachers to use the CXC syllabi; and advise regional governments on Education matters.
The members of the CXC are: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands.
CXC, whose first examinations were held in 1979, tests students in both academic and technical/vocational subjects. Some of the subject areas are Agricultural Science, Biology, Chemistry, English Language and English Literature, Metal Work, Physics, Mathematics, Principles of Accounts, Visual Arts, Caribbean History, Electronics, French and Spanish. In the technical field the subjects include Building Technology, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Technology and Information Technology. The Council admits external entries from St Maarten and Saba from the Netherlands Antilles.
In 1998, CXC offered the first Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) in a range of subjects. The CAPE scheme is intended to satisfy requirements for entry into regional and extra regional universities as well as other professional courses.
The operations of CXC are funded chiefly by contributions from participatory governments and examinations fees while funds for special projects are obtained from donor agencies. CXC is governed by a Council comprising representatives from each participating country. The day to day operations of the Council are managed by a Registrar.
The examinations provided by CXC replace the UK- based General Certificate of Education (GCE) examinations previously taken by students at the secondary level. These examinations based on common regional curricula, have been an important force for fostering awareness and understanding among students, of the importance of the Caribbean in the increasing global arena.
The CXC method of assessment, which combines school based assessment by classroom teachers with traditional examinations, has now been adopted as a model by other examining bodies, notably in the UK.
CXC has also contributed to the professional development of teachers in the region through training workshops and marking exercises that permit teachers from various countries to continuously network and contribute to improving the system.
In a real sense, CXC as an institution has acted as a catalyst in developing a common ‘Caribbean school system’.
Chairpersons of CXC:
Prof Roy Marshall (Barbados), 1973
Dr Dennis Ivrine (Jamaica), 1974-1979
Mr Aston Preston (Jamaica) 1980-1986
Sir Roy Augier (Saint Lucia), 1986-1996
Sir Keith Hunte (Barbados), 1996-2002
Dr Kenneth Hall (Jamaica), 2002 to present
Registrars of the CXC:
Major Herbert Daniel (Barbados), 1973 – 1977
Mr Wilfred Beckles (Barbados), 1978 – 1993
Ms Irene Walter (Jamaica), 1994 – 1995 (Acting Registrar)
Ms Irene Walter (Jamaica), 1996 – 1998
Dr Lucy Steward (Trinidad and Tobago), 1998 – 2008
Dr. Didacus Jules (Saint Lucia) - 2008 - Present
For more information please goto http://www.cxc.org