– consulting with CXC, other stakeholders
Following on the heels of the announcement by President Donald Ramotar that May 11, 2015, will be the date for Regional and General Elections, the Ministry of Education has become the centre of attention. This is due to the fact that the date for the national elections coincides with a number of examinations offered by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).
In fact several teachers, students and parents have raised concerns about the clash, a state of affairs that the Education Ministry in a statement yesterday said that it is well aware of.
According to the Ministry, it is cognizant that there exists among some parents and candidates, concerns about the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). The statement added that “the Ministry wishes to assure all its stakeholders and all citizens that every consideration is being given to the smooth and effective sitting of the 2015 CSEC and CAPE examinations.”
As such, the Ministry said that it is in consultations with the CXC and other stakeholders to discuss and derive a suitable plan that is in the best interest of the candidates.
The Ministry has assured too that additional details will be forthcoming as the Ministry finalizes its plan for the sitting of the CSEC and CAPE examinations on May 11.
Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Mark Lyte, told this publication yesterday that while the Union is first and foremost concerned about the welfare of its membership, it cannot help but be concerned about the candidates who will have to write examinations on Election Day. Lyte is worried that having the elections on the same day as the examinations is likely to “have some sort of an impact on the validity of the exams.”
“I hope that whatever arrangements are put in place would not cause our students to not perform the way they normally do,” said Lyte as he pointed out that “we all know around elections everybody is busy and there is tension. It might have been better for us to have a separate date (from examinations) for the elections.”
Lyte observed too that some of the candidates for the examinations may be eligible to vote and could very well be disenfranchised if elections are held on the same day.
“How are they going to cope with voting as well as examination?” Lyte asked.
He noted that while the Union has not yet shared its concerns with the Education Ministry “we hope that it will be addressed because it is a concern of the Union that the date of the elections coincides with the CXC examinations.”
This publication was informed that any date adjustment might more than likely have to be made at the level of Government in terms of a new elections date as the CXC examinations date is the same set for a number of countries and conducted simultaneously to maintain the integrity of the results.
However, from all indications Guyana’s Election Day is unlikely to change based on utterances from those within Government.
Based on the timetable issued by CXC, the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations set for May 11 are: (MORNING) AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE D/A 2 (General); AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE S/A 2 (General); THEATRE ARTS 1 (General); (AFTERNOON) ELECTRICAL and ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY 1 –Technical; FOOD and NUTRITION 2 (General).
Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) set for the same date are: (MORNING) Geometrical and Mechanical Engineering Drawing Unit 1 Paper 2; History Unit 1 Paper 2; Art and Design Examinations to begin for Unit 1, Papers 2 and 3, and Unit 2, Papers 1 and 2; (AFTERNOON) Communication Studies Paper 2.
Source: https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2015/01/23/announcement-of-general-elections-date-education-ministry-hoping-for-smooth-and-effective-sitting-of-examinations/