CXC® Hosts Annual National Committee Conference
KINGSTON, Jamaica – On Thursday, 10 March 2022, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC®) hosted the Annual Conference of National Committees as part of its drive to revitalise National Committees in participating countries and to further CXC’s mandate to utilise a more inclusive decision-making framework. National Committees are an organised group of in-country stakeholders comprising government, teachers’ unions, professional education bodies, employers, parents, students, universities, and teacher training institutions which are central to the governance system of CXC®. They contribute to CXC’s planning, decision-making, feedback and continuous improvement.
The event, which was organised by the Office of the Pro-Registrar at the Western Zone Office in Jamaica, had two sessions. The first session entailed a meeting of the Chairpersons of the National Committees from each country, where discussions were held around the functionality of the National Committees and the creation of a framework for engagement.
The second session, which was held under the theme New Methods of Competence-Based Credentialing in Secondary Education, entailed a professional development opportunity for members of National Committees across the region. This session was moderated by Dr Barbara Reynolds, International Consultant and former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana. Dr Eduardo Ali, Pro-Registrar and Deputy CEO, CXC® presented on the topic The CXC® Focus on Competence-based Credentialing Using Micro-Awards. In his presentation, Dr Ali reflected on CXC’s major strategic initiatives. He indicated that CXC’s repositioning as a regional enterprise supported its capacity to lead educational transformation, redesign creative innovative products and strengthen corporate governance. He also presented on flexible learning models to include prior learning assessment, recognition systems and equivalency and articulation processes. Dr Ali highlighted CXC’s conceptual plans for macro- and micro-credentialling, micro-credential
courses for the professionalisation of teachers through the CXC® Professional Learning Institute and the introduction of new qualifications and micro-awards which will promote educational access, enhance quality and increase lifelong learning options of citizens across the region.
The second presentation by Dr Debra Ferdinand-James, Senior Lecturer and Coordinator, MA Leadership in TVET and Workforce Development, University of the West Indies, Mona, focused on Competency-based Digital Assessment Practices in Secondary Education. Dr Ferdinand-James’ presentation highlighted the incorporation of digital technology in the education system with examples of how it was utilised as an emergency response to facilitating teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic and assessment practices and case studies for digital learning. She also focused on the emergence of a new digital economy in Industry 4.0 and 5.0.
The event was well-attended by members of CXC’s governing council, National Committee Chairpersons and members, as well as representatives from the CARICOM Secretariat, UNESCO, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Commission (OECS), Ministry of Education officials from across the region, teachers, principals, and representatives from regional tertiary-level institutions.
As CXC® continues to transform for greater regional impact, it will increase its collaboration with stakeholders for the development of the region’s educational system.
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For further information kindly contact us at +1 (246) 227-1700 or email cxcezo@cxc.org (Barbados), or for queries in Jamaica at + 1 (876) 630-5200 or email: cxcwzo@cxc.org
About CXC®:
The Caribbean Examinations Council® (CXC®) was established in 1972 under Agreement by the Participating Governments in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). CXC® assures the global human resource competitiveness of the Caribbean through the provision of syllabuses of the highest quality; valid and reliable examinations and certificates of international repute for students of all ages, abilities and interests; services to educational institutions in the development of syllabuses, examinations and examinations’ administration, in the most cost-effective way.
CXC® comprises 16 Participating Countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos Islands.
The first examinations for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate® (CSEC®) were offered in 1979 in five subjects. Subsequent to CSEC®, CXC® has introduced a comprehensive suite of qualifications to meet the needs of the region: Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment™ (CPEA™), Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence® (CCSLC®), *Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ), Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination® (CAPE®) and the CXC® Associate Degree (CXC®-AD).
The organisation also collaborates with countries in the Dutch Caribbean – Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten, as well as Suriname.
Additional information about the Caribbean Examinations Council® can be found at www.cxc.org
*Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) is the trademark of the Caribbean Association of National Training Authorities. CXC® is one of the National Training Agencies in the Caribbean which awards CVQs.