I feel compelled to air my views on the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) Examination, formerly CXC. Last year the results were not good, especially with regard to mathematics and English.

I certainly hope that this year will not be as bad as last year. But it leaves me to wonder what is being done to effect an improvement. It is with this in mind that I make the following proposals:

1. Allow the students to do the exam in units. Students can do one unit at the end of year one and the second unit at the end of year two. After all, we are preparing students for universities and colleges and there are no courses that extend over one year.

2. Implement a school-based assessment (SBA) component for English language and mathematics. After all, students are doing the worst in these areas and these are the two areas that do not have SBAs. This might improve their grades and we want to do justice to the students.

3. As far as possible for English language, implement an oral component to the exam, since English is not just about writing but also about speaking.

4. Make it mandatory that teachers allow students to speak Standard English in classes and the teachers themselves speak it. Some may say that Jamaican Creole is our mother language, but at the end of the day, students are not tested on Creole, nor are they expected to write Creole when they move on to higher learning.

I know that these areas of improvement may come with more work but in the end we want our students to benefit and feel proud about themselves.

I am, etc.,

S. WILLIAMS

rosewilliams.2006@yahoo.com

St Ann