BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Barbados-based Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Friday said its inaugural Regional Education Conference and the Ministerial Forum to be held in Jamaica next week will bring together some of the “finest minds” in Caribbean education.
“I must say that CXC is motivated by the registration of over 300 delegates for this vital gathering of some of the finest minds in Caribbean education. This conference will be more than talk,” said CXC Registrar and chief executive officer, Dr. Wayne Wesley, of the March 16-19 event.
He told a regional news conference that full conference workshops will ensure that the educators and practitioners share and learn from their peers and experts in the field.
“A key outcome is to find commonality on best practises, models to master Caribbean teaching and instruction, student-centred learning, and the assessment of learning in the context of artificial intelligence and our digital world.
“Importantly, this conference brings education practise and policymaking to the table. Seven ministers of education will fly into Jamaica for this conference and ministerial forum, and another six will join us virtually,” the CXC Registrar said.
He said the CXC Deputy Chair, Dr. Marcia Potter, who is also the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs, and Sports for the Virgin Islands, will moderate a special forum with the ministers of education, which will be streamed across the region.
“The ministers will deliberate on some of the key issues … such as artificial intelligence, digitalisation in education systems, literacy and numeracy, challenges and interventions, and flexible education pathways, such as the CXC Caribbean-targeted education certificate.”
Wesley said he is pleased with the level of interest and that registration is continuing in earnest for the Caribbean Targeted Education Certificate (CTEC), a new modular, flexible certification designed to break down CSEC and CAPE subjects into smaller, manageable units.
He said that to date, over 796 candidates have registered, with several others currently completing their registrations.
“This inaugural regional education conference and ministerial forum are indicative of the new activist CXC. What do I mean by this? It means CXC will become more active in listening to and engaging with our large stakeholder base to understand their frustrations better and address their needs and concerns regarding our products and services, especially among the youth demographic of student candidates.
“We are indeed practising what we preach here at CXC, our duty of care. In the prevailing digital environment, where CXC’s overwhelming majority of Gen Z and Alpha stakeholders spend a lot of their time, CXC intends to be more agile in the space, presenting our products and services in more engaging ways as we facilitate and celebrate the achievements of the Caribbean learners who sit our examinations and benefit from our services. Our activist message is clear. Equity is the new excellence.
“Every Caribbean learner deserves a chance to shine. CXC recognises that brilliance comes in many forms. We recognise creativity, resilience, and real-world skills, not just examination scores. To every student, every learner, in and out of school, we see you. We hear you.
“And whether you are a coder, creator, a problem solver, a dreamer, in school or out of school, your talents matter. This isn’t just about being the best in the class. It is about being your best self. CXC is your path to purpose,” Wesley added.
Among the featured speakers and presenters at the conference will be CXC chairman, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Dr Wayne Wesley, CXC Registrar, Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin, Vice Chancellor, University of Guyana, Dr Luz Longsworth, Senior Corporate Director, Sandals Corporate University, and Alison Drayton, Assistant Secretary General- Human and Social Development at the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat.
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