Sixty-nine students of the St George’s School of Sciences have become the first in Guyana’s public education system to sit the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) examinations, a move the Ministry of Education yesterday said is aimed at strengthening foundational learning at the secondary level.
The examinations commenced on June 10 with English Language and Modern Language papers and continued with Mathematics and Social Studies on June 11, Integrated Science on June 12 and Digital Literacy on June 15.
According to the ministry, the cohort comprised 30 male and 39 female students. St George’s School of Sciences served as the pilot institution for the programme and was the first public school to receive preparation and training for the implementation of CCSLC at the lower secondary level.
National Coordinator of CCSLC, Dr Viola Rowe, said the programme is intended to equip students with the skills and competencies needed for continued learning and future certification.
“The CCSLC is a foundational programme. It provides students with the opportunity to build a core set of skills, knowledge, values, attitudes and competencies,” Rowe said.
She explained that the programme is not intended to replace students’ progression through secondary education but rather to better prepare them for upper secondary studies and certification programmes.
“We want our students to be able to stay in school, be certified, transition to the upper grades, and be engaged in the CSEC and CVQ programmes,” she said.
Developed by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), the competency-based programme is designed for students in the lower secondary grades and covers English Language, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Social Studies, Digital Literacy and a Modern Language, including Spanish, French or Portuguese.
Rowe said the programme also seeks to improve students’ readiness for life and work by placing emphasis not only on academic achievement but also on values and attitudes.
“It is more than just the development of skills and knowledge. The focus is also on attitudes, respect for self, respect for others and respect for the environment,” she said.
The programme uses a modular structure with five modules for each subject area and includes both school-based assessments and external examinations administered by CXC. Students are graded under the bands of Developing Competence, Competent and Mastery. Those who successfully complete at least five subjects, including English and Mathematics, at the level of Competent or Mastery will receive certification.
The Ministry of Education said CCSLC certification is intended to support a seamless transition to Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) programmes, as well as post-secondary vocational training and entry-level employment.
Rowe said teachers have also expressed support for the initiative, noting that many have recognised its value in helping students develop confidence and competence.
“Teachers are saying that this programme should have been here before, because they have recognised the value of the programme,” she said.
She acknowledged that some teachers initially had concerns about the new programme but said support has grown following training sessions and increased understanding of its objectives.
The ministry said it will continue to provide training for teachers who may have missed earlier sessions to ensure schools are prepared for the programme’s wider implementation.
Rowe also commended the students and staff of St George’s School of Sciences, describing the institution as an ambassador for the national rollout of CCSLC.
“Our students at St George’s School of Sciences are ambassadors. The school has paved the way for other schools to be onboard with CCSLC,” she aded.
The next cohort of students is expected to sit the examinations in 2027 and will include students from secondary schools across the country.
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