(Updated) SEA, CSEC, CAPE students writing exams return to schools next year

Only students sitting examinations next year will be allowed to return to schools for the new term which opens on January 4.

At a press conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's on Saturday, the Prime Minister said this decision was made to accommodate students preparing for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Secondary Entrance examinations in 2021.

Rowley said, “I am being told that the January CXC exam which involves approximately 15,000 students will be between January 17 and February 4, so we will allow these exams to take place so that they will be able to come out and have those examinations dispensed with.

“On February 8, standard five students only with their teachers and principals and forms four to five to six students, across the country will be allowed to return.”

CSEC and CAPE exams usually begin in May and runs until June while the SEA exam has been scheduled for June 10. The SEA exam in 2020 was originally scheduled for April but was pushed back to August because of the health implications associated with covid19.

Rowley added that all other classes will be conducted virtually.

Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly told Newsday via whatsaapp that the January exams do not cater for students being in schools physically.

She said, “There would be no physical classes at schools as these are private candidates who may be current students or repeaters or adults. These exams are not the ones students sign up for as a part of the normal school system.”

CEO of the Catholic School Board Sharon Mangroo said they were in support of the decision to reintroduce students due to write exams to a physical setting.

She said, “The Government is doing what is safe and based on the statistics other students can be reintroduced on a phased basis. Other countries were doing it but, of course, it will have to be monitored.

Mangroo added that there were many positives for students coming out of this decision. She said the impact on the students writing the examinations is more than academics as socialisation with their peers is also important.

Principals and school boards had a meeting with Gadsby-Dolly, on Friday, and plans were still to be made on how carry on physical classes, she said.

Since some classes have between 25 to 30 students, additional support staff and blended-learning will have to be used, she said. Challenges also remained to get all students access to devices and connectivity to carry out virtual learning.

A principal at a private primary school in St Augustine said because of the structure of the school and size of their classes, the standard five students will be rotated.

Kezia Reece, who did not want the school to be named, said, “We will be rotating students in groups of five to ensure that students maximise the areas the SEA exam focuses on.”

She said the decision to reintroduce students was positive as peer motivation is critical for the students’ development. Reece said the education system was ready for physical schooling and to treat with covid19 but the behaviour of the population remained an obstacle.

This story has been updated with additional details. The original story is published below.

Only students sitting examinations next year will be allowed to return to school for the new term which opens on January 4.

At his press conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's on Saturday, the Prime Minister said the decision was to accommodate students who were preparing for the 2021 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Secondary Entrance Examination (SEA) examinations.

Dr Rowley said, “I am being told that the January CXC exam which involves approximately 15,000 students will be between January 17 and February 4, so we will allow these exams to take place so that they will be able to come out and have those examinations dispensed with."

“On February 8, standard five students only with their teachers and principals and forms four to five students, across the country will be allowed to return.”

He added that all other classes will be conducted virtually.