Unacceptable!

Spokesperson and organiser of the Barbadian protests against the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) results of 2020, Paula-Anne Moore, believes that the recent response from the regional body is unacceptable.

Her comments came before the start of a march in Independence Square yesterday. Moore, who has co-ordinated a previous protest on September 28, 2020, near CXC headquarters, is not backing down.

“It is still not an acceptable response by the Registrar and CEO. It is still not acceptable. The date is not enough. Right now, we have three batches of children whose lives are on hold and who are traumatised throughout the Caribbean,” said Moore.

Earlier she said that two weeks after the “debacle” and CXC indicating a report in two weeks is not enough. She is demanding that CXC provides a response that will address the short time and immediate needs of the children who have been affected. Moore also added that in the long-term, the organisation should investigate what has occurred and compile recommendations, so this issue does not happen again.

In recent news reports, CXC announced that a review report would be produced by October 16, 2020. In a press release on the CXC website dated October 2, it was stated that the Chairman of CXC, Sir Hilary Beckles, will convene an Independent Review Team.

The team’s aim is to “review the modified approach for the administration of the July/August 2020 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) examinations; the moderation process applied to the School-Based Assessment (SBA) for the July/August 2020 CSEC and CAPE examinations; and the grading process for the July/August 2020 CSEC and CAPE examinations, among other related matters”.

Fewer protesters

Unlike the September 28 protest where over 250 persons participated, the numbers were significantly smaller yesterday. Queen’s College’s Head Boy, Khaleel Kothdiwala, told The Barbados Advocate after speaking to his classmates, they expressed fear about protesting due to the recent news of the COVID-19 cluster in Barbados. The recent development and impact have resulted in the temporary closure of one urban secondary school. Yet, the young student is confident that the support of the protest will return as time continues.

The original route of the protest was from Independence Square to Browne’s Beach, but with the reduced crowd, Moore and her supporters wearing white marched around the square about 3 p.m. after chanting in front of the Errol Barrow statue.

In her earlier comments, Moore said that in Guyana, Queen’s College would have a motorcade to protest the CXC exam results. Trinidad and Tobago’s Caribbean Council of Principals of Secondary Schools and the country’s Parent Teacher Association are in the process of co-ordinating their action. Both Barbados and Guyana launched a Wear White Day for the cause.