The Ministry of Education and Culture in the British Virgin Islands will host the launch of the new Financial Services syllabus for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) on Thursday 3 November 2016.
The launch event will take place at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College on Tortola and starts at 10:00 am.
Dr the Honourable Kedrick Pickering, Acting Premier of the Virgin Islands will deliver the feature address, while Honourable Myron Walwyn, Minister of Education and Culture will deliver an address.
Mrs Lorna Smith, OBE, Director of BVI Finance the marketing and promotions arm of the BVI Financial Services sector will be the guest speaker, representing the Financial Services Sector in the Virgin Islands.
Dr Janet Smith, President of the H Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) will also give remarks, along with Mr Glenroy Cumberbatch, Registrar of the Caribbean Examinations Council. Dr Anette Piper, Assistant Registrar in the Syllabus and Curriculum Development Division will give an overview of the CAPE Financial Services syllabus and the processed used to develop the syllabus.
Performances from students of the HL Stoutt Community College and the Elmore Stoutt High School will punctuate the speeches.
The Caribbean Development Export Agency states that the financial services sector is the second largest contributor to gross domestic product (GDP) in the Caribbean region. In 2011 the financial services sector contributed over 20 per cent to GDP in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia, all countries served by CXC. As a region, the financial services sector contributed 17 per cent of GDP to the CARIFORUM region in 2011.
“Subjects such as Financial Services and other New Generation CAPE subjects empower persons leaving the education system to contribute immediately to the economies of the region either with a skill or with knowledge that is applicable to income-generating sectors,” stated Mr Glenroy Cumberbatch, CXC Registrar. “The figures attributed to Caribbean Expert demonstrate the relevance and importance of financial services to the Caribbean and this is the direction CXC is heading; introducing subjects that are relevant, and hold entrepreneurial potential for Caribbean people.”
The CAPE Financial Services syllabus aims to promote an awareness of the international importance of the financial services industry; Create awareness of the impact of offshore financial service policies on the Caribbean; Help students understand the impact of globalization and the global financial industry on the Caribbean; Help students understand the value of the customers and information systems in the financial services industry; develop the capacity for critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, leadership and management, positive cooperative behaviours, emotional intelligence, entrepreneurial skills and technological competence through authentic learning experiences; and, integrate information, communication and technology (ICT) tools and skills.
Financial Services is the final CAPE New Generation subject to be launched this year; Animation and Game Design, and Green Engineering were launched in Jamaica, and Guyana in March and July respectively.
CAPE Financial Services was introduced to schools in September 2016 and the first examination will be offered in May/June 2017.
To find out more about CAPE Financial Services, please visit http://devcxcedu.wpengine.com/subject/financial-services/.