October deadline for Penwood results
SOME OF the 40 Penwood High students affected by the schoolbased assessment (SBA) saga say they are very happy that the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has given a firm deadline on when they could get results in six Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate subjects.
CXC issued a statement yesterday confirming the reports carried earlier that the students will be graded, while giving a firm deadline.
“Recently submitted projects are being marked and the updated results will be provided by the end of October, which is the normal time for the release of final results,” CXC said in a statement after a high-level meeting held between Jamaican authorities and representatives of the exam body last week.
One student, Sophia Thompson, said she was happy to learn of the news.
The parent of another student, who wished not to be named, said she was pleased and noted that it has been a difficult period.
“I am really looking forward to the results. It’s been waiting a long time,” she told The Gleaner.
The students received ungraded scores in the subjects in August after school authorities failed to submit samples of their SBAs by a July 31 deadline.
AMICABLE AGREEMENT
The CXC initially refused to consider Penwood’s case, but Jamaica lobbied and even threatened to review its relationship if the response was not favourable.
Last week’s meeting between Jamaica and CXC was the latest to consider the situation brought to national attention by an August 25 Gleaner report.
“The Caribbean Examinations Council and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Jamaica have reached an amicable agreement as it relates to recent issues regarding examination and specifically surrounding the Penwood case,” the statement read.
“Both entities gave commitments to improve communication between the organisations as well as to strengthening the existing working relationship. They reaffirmed that, as the leading regional examinations body, the integrity of CXC certifications must be upheld as they work together to serve the learners of the region.”