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Although the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has been touting its Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA) as a strategic move to improve the performances of students from an early stage,Buffalo Bills Throwback Jersey, the local Education Ministry is still carefully considering the details of the initiative.CXC Registrar,Fred Lynn Red Sox Throwback Jersey,Dr Didacus JulesThe CPEA which is intended to replace the Common Entrance examination has been adopted by a number of Caribbean territories and reports suggest that positive results are being realised.But according to Minister of Education,Cal Ripken Orioles Throwback Jersey, Priya Manickchand, her Ministry is currently looking at how it could best cater for local children even as efforts are made to match the Region. She explained that although the CPEA is “really beautiful on paper, we have to look to see whether we can deliver it and whether it would be best suited for our country.”Manickchand explained that since the CXC-organised initiative is not simply an examination,Carlton Fisk Red Sox Throwback Jersey, but rather an ongoing assessment “if we were to move in that direction it would require a lot of training of teachers and so on to do.” Moreover,Cleveland Cavaliers Throwback Jersey, she firmly asserted yesterday at a Cara Lodge, Quamina Street,Dirk Nowitzki Mavericks Throwback Jersey, Georgetown, press conference that “it would be reckless for us to just jump and do it because it looks so good in writing. It would practically be something that would take much focused attention and buy-in from the entire sector.”“It’s safe to say that we are looking at it but it would be reckless for us to make any announcements at this point.” said Manickchand of the CPEA. The entire process, according to her, would require heavy involvement of not only the teachers but management as well in individual schools. As such,Bart Starr Packers Throwback Jersey, she noted that “that would be something that we have to have the capacity for before we can do it.”She however noted that although local teachers have the capacity to travel to any part of the world and perform well; so much so that “we are constantly revered as a country for having great talent…I don’t believe our human resources are without the capacity to do it, but it is not something that you can wake up one morning and decide we want to do.” According to Manickchand, Guyana has more than 10,000 teachers that would have to become involved in this initiative but some territories have far less teachers catering to some 10,Bobby Orr Bruins Throwback Jersey,000 students.“Some of the countries that have done this have a much smaller pool that they have to train, and monitor, and supervise and so on…we have a unique presentation of geography as well as a very large numbers,” the Minister added.As part of moves to introduce long-term interventions to improve students’ performances in the education sector, CXC Registrar,Daryl Johnston Cowboys Throwback Jersey, Dr Didacus Jules, had disclosed at a recent CXC press conference at the Pegasus Hotel that strategic interventions have been introduced in the Caribbean such as the CPEA. He disclosed that CPEA is in fact helping to realise some very useful improvements in students’ core competencies in literacy and numeracy because of the methodology it embraces. “We are encouraging member states to come on board the CPEA because it is not just an exam, it is an integrated methodology of how you teach, how people learn and how you assess,” said Dr Jules who noted that these are all strategic moves at improving the level of education. |
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