CXC Examiner May 2012 - Caribbean Examinations Council

The Caribbean ExaminerWhat instituions say about CSEC and CAPEa two-year CAPE associate degree or diploma.It is vital that the CXC continues the effort inspreading the word about CAPE examinations.As registrars and admission personnel becomemore familiar with the CXC examinations andtheir processes, the transferability of studentsis increasing.The reputation of the CXC is one ofprofessionalism, trustworthiness, and rigour.Over time, the availability of certificates andcurricular information has increased dramatically,and the CXC’s website provides a plethora of dataincluding syllabuses and programme details. Thegrading systems appear well developed and aresimple to interpret, while examination recordsare straightforward and easy to read. If questionsarise regarding these aspects, the CXC is quickto clarify.The documentation practices of the CXCare laudable, and instances of fraud or alterationare rarely encountered. This is due in part to thevarious safety features on CXC credentials, alongwith a clear method of document verification.Students are able to have their records sentdirectly from the CXC to overseas institutionsand other third parties as the preferred methodof delivery. We have heard from students thatobtaining certificates from the CXC is a simpleand efficient process. The establishment ofon-line transcript requests provides studentsimmediate access, and pushes the CXC to theforefront of web-based technology. All of theseadvances result in a streamlined transfer processfor many students.It is evident that the CXC remains cognizantof the current trends in education, and seeks toincorporate the most relevant and cutting edgephilosophies in their pedagogical approaches.This can be witnessed in the development ofIT courses at both the CSEC and CAPE levels,along with competency-based assessment inexaminations. The review of course content andstudent learning outcomes is continuous as theCXC strives to ensure they are contributing to theoutput of high caliber students from the region.As the CXC works to establish articulationagreements with various institutions in theUnited States, Canada, and within the Caribbean,the number of students studying outside of theirhome country will inevitably surge. Opportunitiesfor further education are developing both withinthe Caribbean and abroad, while the worthand importance of the CXC is simultaneouslyexpanding. We look forward to welcomingmore and more students to the United States tocontinue their education. ECE’s experience withthe CXC has been overwhelmingly positive, andwe hope to continue to broaden our connectionin the future.Melissa Ganiere isan Evaluator withEducational CredentialEvaluators, Inc. based inWisconsin, USA.www.cxc.org MAY 2012 31