by Curlan Campbell
- January exams utilise CXC’s digital e-assessment and hybrid systems
- CTEC pilot is being implemented in 13 CXC member states, involving 48 examination centres
- With over 6,400 candidates, CTEC is oversubscribed by more than 50%
As the January 2026 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams begin for over 10,000 candidates across the region, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has declared important developments in digital testing, new disaster recovery, and broader education reform.
Registrar and CEO Dr Wayne Wesley detailed updates during a press conference in Kingston, Jamaica, on Tuesday, and also revealed key decisions from the council’s Board of Governors’ recent governance meetings.
According to Dr Wesley, the January exams, which started this week and end on 29 January, utilise CXC’s digital e-assessment and hybrid systems. The council plans to make all tests digital in 3 to 5 years, he noted. CXC will begin preparations for the usual May–June exam period immediately after the January sitting, anticipating more than 100,000 candidates and over 600,000 CSEC and CAPE subject entries.
Turning to what he described as the “core business of CXC,” Dr Wesley outlined new regional learning standards aimed at strengthening literacy, numeracy, and primary-level outcomes across the Caribbean. “I have here in hand 2 key resources — our learning standards for literacy and numeracy, as well as our standards and performance criteria for our primary exit examinations,” he said. “These 2 documents encapsulate the standards necessary for [people] to be deemed proficient in these areas.”
He explained that the literacy and numeracy standards are designed to guide teaching and learning in the first 3 years of secondary school, while the updated standards for the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA) focus on improving instruction at the primary level. “It is aimed at achieving greater learning outcomes [for] the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment and contains new targets and standards and performance criteria benchmarked against regional and international requirements,” Dr Wesley stated, adding that the documents are publicly available on the council’s website.
Significant attention was also given to the Caribbean Targeted Education Certificate (CTEC) pilot, which is being implemented across all 13 CXC member states and involves 48 examination centres, and which Dr Wesley said has exceeded expectations. “We planned for the participation of 3,000 learners for the seated pilot. However, we have received over 6,400 candidates,” Dr Wesley revealed. “This is oversubscribed by more than 50%, giving us an indication as to the extent to which this product is really being accepted by the region.”
Further details on the pilot were provided by CXC officials, including Alton McPherson, who is supporting the rollout. He noted that the 6,453 candidates are drawn from 13 territories and will be engaged in a structured process between January and March.
During this period, candidates will be oriented to the Surpass platform, which will be used to administer Paper One electronically and Paper Two in a hybrid format. They will also complete practice tests using the same platform. Additionally, candidates participating in the pilot will be registered through CXC’s new registration system, as they were not included in the regular registration cycle.
Between March and April, CXC will work closely with examination centres to ensure candidates upload their School-Based Assessments (SBAs), download timetables, and meet e-test readiness requirements to avoid technical challenges on examination days. All candidates will also be required to complete practice tests ahead of the assessments.
McPherson explained that results from the CTEC pilot are expected to be addressed during the July–August results period. “We will conduct our final assessments, collect personal data, and gather qualitative feedback,” he said, noting that the information will help CXC address any unforeseen issues before the full rollout planned for June 2027. Data analysis on effectiveness will also be undertaken, with results released alongside the normal CSEC results in August.
Dr Wesley also highlighted the council’s advocacy for persons with disabilities, particularly students who are visually impaired or print-disabled. He reaffirmed CXC’s commitment to the Marrakesh Treaty, which promotes access to published works for persons with visual impairments. “For the 2025 examination sitting, CXC made special assessment arrangements for over 3,444 candidates with visual impairment and other special needs,” he said. “As we continue to refine our approaches and technologies to enhance accessibility, we commit to ensuring that all candidates, regardless of ability, can participate fully and fairly.”
Dr Wesley emphasised CXC’s broader mission as it prepares for the year ahead. “When all is said and done, CXC is guided by a renewed vision to ignite the potential and shape the future of our Caribbean people,” he said. “By standing resiliently with stakeholders in the wake of disasters, improving our operational processes, and widening access to our services in inclusive ways, CXC is fulfilling its duty of care to the people of our beloved region.”
He added that the council is optimistic about the year ahead, stating, “We intend to have a remarkable and successful year in 2026, and we invite the entire region to partner with us.”
Meanwhile, the CXC Board of Governors has also approved the established disaster and business recovery protocol, which outlines how CXC responds when a participating member state is affected by disasters or unusual events. The protocol involves 6 steps: CXC issues an initial response and statement of support; coordinates with ministries of education on assessment and recovery; consults widely with stakeholders such as parents, teachers, and employers; develops recommendations and action plans for the Board; the Board reviews and approves these actions; and finally, CXC implements the approved measures while conducting ongoing evaluation with the affected state.
