Over the next nine weeks, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) will be working with the United Kingdom

National Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC) to benchmark the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level

Competence (CCSLC).

 

The benchmarking will seek to compare the CCSLC qualification with similar levels of qualifications in the United

Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia.

 

The objective of the benchmarking exercise is to facilitate a wider recognition of the CCSLC beyond the Caribbean

region, which other CXC qualifications such as the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the

Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) currently enjoy.

 

The benchmarking will also provide objective recommendations for improving the qualification design, assessment

and quality assurance where necessary.

 

As part of the exercise, a two-member UK NARIC team will visit Barbados on 15 and 16 May to observe the delivery

CCSLC in two schools: Queen’s College and Dighton Griffith Secondary School.

 

“The benchmarking of CCSLC is an important step for CXC and the region as we strive to make our human resource

base globally competitive,” Dr Didacus Jules, Registrar of CXC stated. “When completed, the benchmarking will allow

the CCSLC to be recognised beyond the Caribbean and facilitate the qualification’s holders to use it internationally in

the same way holders of CAPE and CSEC use their qualifications. CXC views its qualifications as “passports” to

pathways our candidates may choose.”

 

UK NARIC is the national agency providing information and advice on academic, vocational and professional

qualifications worldwide, and has developed extensive knowledge of international education systems. UK NARIC was

the first international body to recognise CAPE in 1999 and advise universities and colleges in the UK on the

acceptance of CAPE.

 

“UK NARIC is delighted to be working with the CXC in the evaluation of the CCSLC, its most recent secondary school

level qualification,” Stephanie Thomas, Project Officer at UN NARIC said “We appreciate the important role that

education plays both in facilitating domestic and global mobility and in developing and shaping economies. Evaluating

the CCSLC against international education standards will help strengthen understanding of the qualification amongst

international stakeholders.”

 

For further information, please contact Cleveland Sam, Public Information Officer at (246) 227 1892 or via e-mail

@CSam@cxc.org.