The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has set its sights on delivering all examinations digitally within the next three to five years, beginning with the partial rollout in the January 2026 sitting.
Alongside this digital transition, the Council has also confirmed decisions on disaster preparedness, updated curriculum standards, and measures to strengthen inclusion across the region.
Registrar and CEO Dr Wayne Wesley noted that more than 10,000 candidates are sitting the January 2026 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, which are being administered through digital and hybrid assessment formats.
He confirmed that preparations will begin immediately for the May-June sitting, involving over 100,000 candidates and more than 600,000 subject entries, as CXC accelerates its transition to full digital delivery.
Wesley used the briefing to outline other key decisions endorsed by the Board of Governors, including strengthened disaster‑response protocols, new curriculum standards and measures to advance inclusion across the region.
On disaster readiness, the Board has formally endorsed CXC’s long‑standing business recovery framework, which guides the organisation’s response when participating states face hurricanes, floods, volcanic eruptions, or civil unrest.
The six‑step process includes issuing a statement of support, coordinating with ministries of education, consulting stakeholders, drafting recommendations, securing board approval and maintaining ongoing evaluation with the affected state.
Wesley noted that the protocol is currently in effect in Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa. Under an agreed plan with the Ministry of Education, examinations will proceed in the normal format for most schools, with modified arrangements available to those hardest hit.
CXC will also adjust school‑based assessments, waive late registration penalties and extend the SBA submission deadline to June 15, 2026. Jamaican candidates will still receive their results in August alongside the rest of the region, while those who feel unprepared may defer to 2027 or request a refund.
CXC has also introduced new regional literacy and numeracy benchmarks, along with updated standards for the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA). These resources define the competencies required for proficiency and are designed to strengthen learning outcomes at both primary and secondary levels. Publicly available on the CXC website, the standards are benchmarked against regional and international measures, ensuring alignment with global best practice.
CXC is also advancing measures to ensure equitable access for all learners. Wesley reported that the Council is actively advocating for the adoption of the WIPO Marrakesh Treaty through ministries of education, to guarantee accessible learning for visually impaired and print‑disabled students.
For the 2025 examinations, special arrangements were provided for more than 3,400 candidates with visual impairments and other special needs. He underscored CXC’s commitment to fairness, affirming that “all candidates, regardless of ability, can participate fully and fairly.”
Wesley reaffirmed CXC’s renewed vision to “ignite the potential and shape the future of our Caribbean people”, highlighting the Council’s duty of care to the region and expressing confidence that 2026 would be a successful year.
He invited stakeholders across the Caribbean to partner with CXC in advancing education and opportunity, noting that the organisation has delivered on this mission for more than five decades as a CARICOM treaty body.
