$700M to be expended for gov’t’s CXC payment initiative

An estimated $700 million will be expended for the government to cover the exam fees for up to eight subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) for students in both public and private schools.

This new initiative will see an estimated $48,000 allocated to each student, a release from the Office of the President noted.

The cost for up to eight CSEC subjects can amount to approximately $46,500. However, the cost is often subsidized based on the parents’ income. With this new measure, families across the board will benefit from significant financial relief.

“I will ensure that no child is compelled to limit the number of CSEC subjects they write on account of the financial circumstances of their parents and this initiative goes beyond CSEC, it will also include the CAPE students and they too will benefit from this initiative,” the President announced during a LIVE broadcast on his official Facebook Page.

The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) offers 28 general CSEC subjects and offers 22 two-unit subjects and two one-unit subjects for CAPE.

CAPE is normally written after students successfully complete the CSEC exams. The two-unit subjects are written over a two year period.

President Ali said the initiative is part of the government’s broader commitment to building a prosperous and unified future for all citizens.

“These are the policies that we are embracing. This is the future that we are creating. We are not a seasonal presence in your lives,” the President stated.

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand clarified that the initiative will not apply to students sitting exams this year.