Garcia: TT must adhere to CXC decision

Education Minister, Anthony Garcia said the Caribbean Examinations Council's (CXC) exam is a regional one and TT must adhere to the region's decision.

In an interview on Wednesday, Garcia said if there are to be any changes to the decision made by CXC, the change must come from the regional Government.

Garcia’s response came after the TTUTA’s plea for CXC to reconsider having the exam held in July.

“I am aware of TTUTA's concerns and I am always open to have discussions with TTUTA with any concerns that affect the education system.

“Therefore I will make myself available to have discussions. I am open to having discussions with TTUTA on this issue.”

Garcia said on May 8, there was a meeting of regional education ministers under the leadership of Caricom and the ministers were addressed by the registrar of CXC.

He said ministers of education were allowed to put forward their positions and a vote was taken to have the exam in July.

“All the arguments were put forward. As the Minister of Education of TT, I had the opportunity to put forward our position, and my position was based on the Cabinet of TT as well.

“Cabinet position was that we had no problem having the exams in July,” he said.

Garcia said the ministry had put in place a timetable that would allow students who had not completed their SBAs to have some time to finish it.

He said the ministry is also preparing a circular memorandum to be sent to all secondary schools.

“In that memorandum, we are giving guidelines to principals who would then instruct teachers how to facilitate the issue,” Garcia said.