KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) is assuring students, teachers and parents that the reform of school-based assessments (SBAs) is not intended to increase pressure or anxiety for candidates.

Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Director of Operations at CXC, Dr Nicole Manning, said the changes, which will affect selected Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) subjects, are intended to strengthen the assessment process, while ensuring that students’ competencies are accurately measured.

She explained that the reform will not apply to all subjects, noting that practical-based subjects, including physics, biology and chemistry, will continue to use SBAs.