Did CXC err?

THE EDITOR, Madam:

THE CARIBBEAN Examinations Council (CXC) revised its Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) English A and B syllabi, effective June 2018.

In the new document, the Prescribed Texts for English B are, in the first instance, for June 2018 to January 2023.

In the second instance, they are from June 2023 to January 2027. To all concerned, this would indicate that the three-year cycle for English B texts has been broadened to a five-year cycle. Teachers embraced this and found this to be a logical decision. However, that is not the only thing that has been revised.

Thanks to organisations such as The National Association of Teachers of English (NATE), other sections of the exam paper have also been revised or rather, been reverted to what was always the format of the exam until CXC made a change. Specifically, on page 42 and 43 of the syllabus, effective June 2018, under the Drama section, it states that ‘Four Type A Questions will be set’; for Poetry, ‘Two Type B Questions will be set’; and under the Prose sections, specifically the Novel, ‘Four Type A Questions will be set’.

The English B exam was administered last Friday, May 12, 2023 and it appears that the examining body failed to remember what was written in the syllabus they released, as there were only two questions set for Drama and two questions set on the novels.

Teachers and students have been guided by the syllabus, yet the examining body has set an exam contrary to its own rules in this new syllabus. The question then is ‘was that fair to students?’ Students entered the exam with an expectation and were met with something totally different.

Who will take responsibility? Whose job was it to ensure that the exam aligned with the requirements of the syllabus?

Granted, if students can adjust easily, this omission might not be a problem but what about those students who naturally panic in exams and the slightest shift can compound their reaction.

CXC must recognise that the syllabus has changed, not in some parts (five-year cycle) but in all parts, and in future, structure the exam paper to match the direction they have instructed teachers to prepare students.

As always, teachers will be blamed for ‘crimes’ they have not committed.

CONCERNED TEACHER