BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — There is growing concern across the region regarding the high number of students who continue fail to attain the minimum requirement of five subject passes, including Mathematics and English, which affects their eligibility for entry into higher education institutions.
Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) Registrar Dr. Wayne Wesley highlighted these issues on Tuesday (Aug. 20) during the release of results for the May/June 2024 examination. He pointed to consistent trends observed over the past five years.
During the ceremony in Dominica, Dr. Wesley expressed alarm at the concerning statistics, noting that the average pass rate for English has been around 79-80 percent over the past five years. In contrast, the average pass rate for Mathematics has ranged from 55 to 59 percent. He further revealed that when considering the entire cohort over the focused period, the pass rate drops to approximately 44 percent, and this year's performance in Mathematics is even lower than last year's.
Over the past five years, the region has been losing approximately 11,500 students annually who are unable to advance to university due to failing these two subjects. Dr. Wesley emphasized that this issue exacerbates the competitive gap between the region and more developed countries.
He explained, “Approximately 11,500 students are either underemployed or not fully realizing their potential due to a lack of proficiency in Mathematics and English. This not only affects their employability but also hampers the region's economic competitiveness, innovation, and the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.”
To address this challenge, the CXC has commissioned a team to develop new standards for literacy and numeracy. These standards will incorporate Artificial Intelligence to design targeted interventions and support for students. Dr. Wesley stressed that while this initiative is not a cure-all, it is a crucial step toward improving the educational ecosystem.
He concluded, “The solution requires a collective effort involving the Ministry of Education, the CXC, teachers, education officers, governments, parents, and communities. Together, we must address this serious issue affecting the development of human capital in the region.”
