The FORCE (Focus On Redesigning Children’s Education) Team has reemphasized its call for a comprehensive rethink of Anguilla’s education system in light of recent concerns raised by CXC Registrar, Glenroy Cumberbatch. Earlier this week, in a wide ranging commentary, the CXC boss expressed dismay regarding the direction of the regional education system. The apparently appalling regional 2018 exam outcome was again the reason for CXC’s concern.
It is clear that CXC is under no illusions as to the difficulties these dismal numbers present. As a matter of fact, Mr Cumberbatch is following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Dr Didacus Jules, who regularly scolded the education systems throughout the test-taking Caribbean. Both gentlemen have been in lockstep with each other blaming the territories for shortcomings and consistently dreary test returns overall.
While we in Anguilla can certainly articulate our own reservations with the CXC the FORCE has recognized a much more important and urgent assignment summarized as follows;
1. What percentage of Anguilla’s students has been failing outright over the years?
2. How has our education directorate been specifically engaged in raising our own profile in education delivery and on the regional assessment?
3. How well has the CSEC and CAPE exams served our local student population in relation to the vision of education that we follow ?
4. What are we trying to achieve through our commitment to CXC to the apparent detriment of the students?
5. To what extent has the local education leadership been in contact with their CXC counterparts to address mutual concerns leading to a remedying of the well known evidence-based challenges?
The FORCE is painfully aware of many of the challenges that have affected our student population here in Anguilla for several years and at every level of their educative experience. One of the more fundamental issues is the reading ability of our students and the direct correlation to exam performance.
We are hopeful that this loud pronouncement from the CXC is embraced by our local authorities as an opportunity to seriously and methodically review our own education delivery methods without delay. Furthermore, an assessment of our relationship with CXC is also in order, bearing in mind Anguilla’s fragile state of affairs and the precious young people to whom we are accountable.
The FORCE Team.
-Press Release
