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SBA reform not intended to increase pressure on students—CXC
🇯🇲 Jamaica /Elections & Politics

SBA reform not intended to increase pressure on students—CXC

From Jamaica Observer · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) is reforming School-Based Assessments (SBAs) for CSEC and CAPE subjects to strengthen the evaluation process.
  • These reforms aim to accurately measure students' competencies and address challenges, including the increased use of AI tools.
  • CXC assures students and educators that the changes are not meant to increase pressure and will include support measures like providing topics in advance and allowing reference notes during exams.

The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) is implementing reforms to its School-Based Assessments (SBAs) for certain Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) subjects. CXC Director of Operations, Dr. Nicole Manning, stated that the changes are designed to enhance the assessment process and ensure accurate measurement of students' abilities, not to add pressure.

For the practical-based subjects, SBAs remain

— Dr. Nicole ManningDr. Nicole Manning, Director of Operations at CXC, confirming that SBAs will continue for practical-based subjects.

Dr. Manning clarified that practical-based subjects like physics, biology, and chemistry will continue to use SBAs, and the alternative Paper 32 option is being removed for these subjects. She emphasized that Paper 32 is not a traditional memorization-based exam but focuses on application skills, often using case studies to assess competencies such as analysis and decision-making.

The Paper 32 is not a Paper 2. The design is different. It is focused on application skills.

— Dr. Nicole ManningDr. Nicole Manning explaining the nature of Paper 32 in the CSEC and CAPE assessments.

The impetus for these reforms stems from identified challenges within the current SBA system, particularly the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Feedback from stakeholders indicated difficulties in detecting AI usage and verifying the authenticity of students' work. CXC aims to adapt assessment methods to continue measuring genuine student abilities without discouraging technology use.

You can well imagine that candidates will be well prepared

— Dr. Nicole ManningDr. Nicole Manning expressing confidence in student preparedness due to upcoming support measures.

To support the transition, CXC will offer sensitisation sessions, webinars, and additional resources for schools and teachers. Students will also receive support, including being given exam topics a month in advance and being permitted to bring reference notes into the examination. These reforms are part of a broader CXC initiative to ensure assessment strategies across its 16 member states remain relevant and effectively validate students' skills.

We have to pull together and really make some deliberate change and action where this is concerned

— Dr. Nicole ManningDr. Nicole Manning emphasizing the need for collective action in implementing educational assessment changes.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jamaica Observer. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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