For the first time this year, all fifth form students at public high schools in the territory are required to take the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate exams.
And they are now registered for the tests, which are administered by the Caribbean Examinations Council.
The 262 registered students represent 100 percent of the graduating classes at the Elmore Stoutt High School, the Bregado Flax and Claudia Creque educational centres, St. George’s Secondary School and the BVI Seventh-day Adventist School, according to Government Information Services.
Of that number, 55 registered for nine or more subjects, including five who registered for 11, the highest number recorded for this school year. Thirty students will sit less than five subjects.
In addition to the fifth form students, 14 fourth formers have registered for the exams, and 26 individuals have registered to sit them privately.
A new policy implemented by the Ministry of Education and Culture requires students to pass at least five CXC subjects, including mathematics and English, to qualify for a national scholarship.
CXC Registrar and CEO Dr. Didacus Jules applauded the policy, according to GIS.
“For national development to be sustainable, equity of opportunity must be a cornerstone of educational policy,” he wrote in a letter to Education and Culture Minister Myron Walwyn. “In the current competitive global arena, educational success is no longer the accomplishment of the top flyers but the calibre of the entire cohort.”
The CXC registrar also urged students to take advantage of the free online study website Notesmaster.
This year’s exams will be held from April through June after the local Secondary School Leaving Exams in March. The cost will be covered by government for all students registered through a public school.
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