As results released, CXC reveals rise in cheating

CARIBBEAN Examinations Council (CXC) director of operations Dr Nicole Manning revealed a notable rise in cheating in this year's CSEC exam as the organisation launched the release of results, available to individual pupils online at CSEC and CAPE level.

The launch was held in Dominica on August 20, with the feature address delivered by CXC registrar and CEO Dr Wayne Wesley.

Manning said cases of cheating, which she referred to as "irregularities," rose from 36 pupils caught last year to 54 cases this year.

"We are seeing a lot of cheating using the cellphone," she said. "One candidate said he was googling the answer."

Manning used the occasion to ask pupils not to cheat, but instead to uphold ethics and integrity.

"We will research why candidates would not have been prepared."

She said some pupils tried to sneak unauthorised papers into the exam room, others were caught checking their phones for information they had previously stored, and others tried to communicate with each other during exam sessions.

"It is speaking to a level of ill-preparedness for the exam," she reiterated, saying this was also a common reason for pupils not turning up to sit the exam.

Across the region, the CAPE results included 100 per cent of pupils passing French Unit Two, 97 per cent passing both physics Units One and Two, and 96 per cent passing information technology Unit Two. However Wesley lamented the low pass rate in CSEC maths, saying it must be addressed.

Newsday was unable to ascertain how closely exam results in Trinidad and Tobago mirrored those in the region. Results seemed to be trickling out to individual pupils, some who forwarded them to their schools/teachers, but the latter had not formally received the full overall results.