Dear Editor:
We note with interest, the appeal by Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the CXC, Dr Wayne Wesley, re “We need to find an approach that creates an appropriate balance, that allows students to demonstrate the critical competencies required to function in society and help them to apply to any content, rather than focusing on the syllabus content…
In this regard, the current thinking around the development of examination is to have a greater focus on the appropriate balance between critical competences and content coverage.”
But shouldn’t it be the role of the CXC to build in the requisite competencies for the content of each subject area along with relevant skills sets?
As a regional body funded by taxpayers’ money the CXC should have both the expertise and the regional mindset to be able to do so.
Once this is provided by the CXC, Ministries of Education must then train teachers to be able to underpin the content with related competencies and skills and in instructional methodologies and related expertise to be able to deliver accordingly – perhaps a Train the Trainer program so those trained can then turnkey the training to their colleagues across each nation.
Perhaps both the CXC and Ministries of Education can analyze syllabuses of developed nations, especially New York City in the US to grasp how all three can be married – content, competencies and skill sets.
There are many Caribbean teachers in the US, especially New York City, with the capacity and competency to assist and The Caribbean Voice can be of assistance in this respect.
Sincerely
Annan Boodram
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The ‘developed’ nations are taking brainpower away from us all the time so we don’t necessarily have to follow their lead on everything. Yes they have big universities but in y opinion our primary and secondary institutions far outshine them. Added to that they are now burdening the children by attempting to indoctrinate them on issues that should have no place in a school. I note the complaint about just learning syllabus content but isn’t that what they go to school for…to learn what they are being taught? Perhaps we can try adding more subjects with practical skills but at the end of the day, math is math and English is English.
@Developed nations?…one major problem with teaching, that stagnates the #Critical #Thinking of students is the fact that, school systems are still separating the Sciences and the Arts.
Math is not just math, it’s a language as well. Example a capital A is two isololes triangle, an o is a circle all the way to trigonometry and integral solutions all require the mastering or a language.
English is not lust a language, it’s science as well…Word-Sound-Power is very evident in music, pitch, cadence, phrases all flow from some mathematical root.
Math is not just #math!
English/language is not just letters, words, phrases!
Schools which offer a #Living #Classroom environment are producing well rounded students, who can adapt and adjust to fit their wants, needs, desires to thrive in this Universe.
Some of us can recall when CXC crossed over to being a rubbish exam body.
That was when what mattered most were the fees that the students paid, even though they would not even sit the subjects. It is all about the mon-nay.
It got so bad that to make sure that they did not fail too many students, subject areas were constantly dropped if in the previous year’s exam, the results were poor. Subjects are being introduced which do not have the right equipment nor teachers. Take PE, for instance. It is a joke to see some of the persons who the Ministry hired to administer PE exams in the schools.
And do I have to mention the marking process and the mediocrity that is allowed as a pass?
It will be just a matter of time before parents begin to get wise to how their hard earned money is going towards the mis-certification of their children by CXC.
If you doubt me, check some of the offices and business establishments and their complaints against the material they are getting for “workers with CXC subjects”.
Our students are not being driven to succeed.
It’s a damn shame.
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