Saint Lucia has held the first Caribbean Targeted Education Certificate (C-Tech) exams, which could change how students across the region take secondary-level assessments.
The initiative, which began on Tuesday, offers a modular pathway to the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC). Instead of taking all subjects at once, students can now complete the syllabus in stages and work toward full certification over time.
Registrar of Examinations Patterson Abraham said the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) chose to start the first module with mathematics, a subject that has often been difficult for students across the Caribbean.
Looking at how students have performed in mathematics in the past, both in Saint Lucia and across the region, Abraham said, “On the past performances that we have seen in mathematics, not only in st lucia, but across the region, this approach gives students an opportunity to attain a micro-credential pass.”
He explained that this structure lets students handle less content at once, making the subject easier to manage.
He also pointed out that with the modular system, “the number of areas that they have to cover is less than the CSEC programme”. This means students “can focus on a few topics at a time, and to be able to do as well as they can on just one module, and then to build onto the next module”.
With the C-Tech system, students who successfully complete three modules will earn a full CSEC pass. This offers a more flexible and less overwhelming way to get certified.
Abraham visited several schools where the exams were held and said he was pleased with how the first day went. “From my visits and from my communication with the centres that are doing C-Tech, everything seemed to be under control,” he said.
He explained the exam format, saying, “Today is paper two of module one, which is a hybrid exam; the students are given the questions on a device, and they are writing the answers in an answer booklet.” This mix of digital and written parts shows a more modern approach to assessment in the region.
No major problems were reported during the first exams. “So far, we have no major incidents. Everything seemed to be under control,” Abraham said. He added that officials are hopeful for a successful C-Tech sitting this year.
Abraham called the initiative an important step for education in the region. He said he is confident it will help students improve their academic performance in the long run.
