Fifty years ago, a bold cadre of innovative Caribbean educators, filled with the spirit of determination, goal-centeredness and cooperation, waded the waters to develop the Caribbean’s first examination body. What started as an exercise in regional cooperation has blossomed into the Caribbean Examinations Council’s 50th anniversary. Welcome to CXC at 50!
For the past fifty years, the Caribbean Examinations Council® has remained steadfastly dedicated to serving the region through the development of the human capital of our Caribbean people through partnerships for global competitiveness. This is our motivation as we work towards our vision of a digitally transformed enterprise providing high-quality, relevant and globally recognised educational services.
The Agreement Establishing the Council was presented and signed at the inaugural Council meeting in Barbados by the governments of 15 English-speaking Caribbean territories in 1973 thus creating an institution with two Administrative and Operational Centres (AOC) in Barbados and Jamaica, respectively. The establishment of CXC® represented the actualisation of a shared dream of a regional examination body which would serve as an integrating force in the Caribbean. This vision served as a guide for navigating the development of the first examination body of the Caribbean, by the Caribbean and for the Caribbean. Today, CXC® is hailed as one of the finest success stories of Caribbean people working together for the enrichment of the region.
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 organisation also collaborates with countries in the Dutch Caribbean – Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten, as well as Suriname.
The emergence of CXC® was driven by a shared vision of Caribbean unity. While many of the names and faces behind the Council have changed over the years, our passion for Caribbean excellence has not waned.
Mining for Digital Gold
When the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate® (CSEC®), the first approved brand for the Council’s first certificate, was introduced for the first time in 1979, no technology was used. The first examinations for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate® (CSEC®) were offered in 1979 in five subjects. Today, CXC® proudly celebrates its ‘golden jubilee’ with a digital goldmine of expertly developed products and services: 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).
Through the introduction of e-Learning, the enhancement of e-Testing, the launch of the CXC® Data Intelligence Gateway (CDIG) and the introduction of the CXC® Learning Institute, we remain committed to our digital transformation as an enterprise providing you with quality, relevant and globally recognised educational services.
In celebration of our 50th anniversary, we invite you to join us for our year-long celebration as we take a ‘golden reflection’ on CXC® through the years. You can check out the brief timeline below to see our journey to 50 years. And celebrate with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter!
