Dear Editor,
The 2012 results for the C-SEC English A (English Language) examination have shown a dramatic 20 per cent decline from those of the previous year. There has been no clear explanation from the CXC authorities as to why this statistical anomaly did not justify a review to ensure that the results could be reliably compared to those of previous years.
Jamaica's Ministry of Education is represented on SUBSEC, the committee which approves the results before they are published, but did not secure the necessary review.
The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education should be asked to state what steps have been taken by the ministry to ensure that the 2012 English A results can be reliably compared with those of previous years, and what efforts were made by the ministry's representative on SUBSEC to challenge the publication of those statistically questionable results.
The Ministry of Education had discussions with CXC representatives, following the outcry concerning the disappointing 2012 English A and mathematics results, but the ministry's officers involved have not indicated that satisfactory answers were received to questions relating to the English A results.
We should be told why the preparation of those ministry representatives (through familiarity with the English A examination and with the challenges posed by questions on the 2012 paper 2) did not appear sufficient to elicit answers that satisfactorily explained the actions taken by the CXC.
Peter Maxwell
plcm07@yahoo.com
More needs to be said about C-SEC English A
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The 2012 results for the C-SEC English A (English Language) examination have shown a dramatic 20 per cent decline from those of the previous year. There has been no clear explanation from the CXC authorities as to why this statistical anomaly did not justify a review to ensure that the results could be reliably compared to those of previous years.
Jamaica's Ministry of Education is represented on SUBSEC, the committee which approves the results before they are published, but did not secure the necessary review.
The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education should be asked to state what steps have been taken by the ministry to ensure that the 2012 English A results can be reliably compared with those of previous years, and what efforts were made by the ministry's representative on SUBSEC to challenge the publication of those statistically questionable results.
The Ministry of Education had discussions with CXC representatives, following the outcry concerning the disappointing 2012 English A and mathematics results, but the ministry's officers involved have not indicated that satisfactory answers were received to questions relating to the English A results.
We should be told why the preparation of those ministry representatives (through familiarity with the English A examination and with the challenges posed by questions on the 2012 paper 2) did not appear sufficient to elicit answers that satisfactorily explained the actions taken by the CXC.
Peter Maxwell
plcm07@yahoo.com
More needs to be said about C-SEC English A
-->