Education authorities have delayed the publication of the customary national summary of this year’s CSEC results because of “two major discrepancies” affecting multiple subjects at two schools, Education Minister Phillip Jackson told Parliament on Thursday.
Speaking after students gained access to their individual grades on Tuesday, Aug. 18,
Jackson said candidates have been able to view their results on the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) platform, share them with family and friends, and use them for college applications.
However, the Ministry of Education has held back the usual public breakdown of national performance while the matter is being addressed with CXC.
“There were two major discrepancies for two schools on a number of subjects, and we discussed it internally and immediately informed CXC, who are rectifying that issue,” Jackson said.
“We thought it would be premature to make those results with those discrepancies to the public, and then it might change your ranking in schools, how schools do in comparison with each other.”
Jackson said most students have already used their results to move ahead with their academic plans.
“Most of our students have already signed up for college. My own son has passed all of his CSEC [subjects and] has already signed up for college,” he said.
The minister stressed that the delay affects only the public release of the overall national performance tables, not students’ access to their individual grades.
Jackson said candidates have had their results “for over a week” and parents are fully aware of their children’s performance.
“Functionally, all students have their results since over a week ago, have used that to apply to college. Their parents are fully aware of what happened, and the education system is working just as it should,” he said.
He reiterated that once CXC resolves the anomalies at the two affected schools, the ministry will issue the full national results as usual.
“As soon as we have the final details with those discrepancies sorted out, we will make the appropriate press release,” Jackson said, adding that officials are “working assiduously with CXC to resolve that matter”.
Jackson also reminded students who did not perform as well as they had hoped that there will be a resit opportunity in January, when they can resit exams to improve their grades.
The minister did not provide specific details on the nature of the discrepancies or identify the affected schools, but framed the delay as a precaution to protect the integrity of school rankings and ensure the accuracy of the national CSEC performance report.