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BATCE PREPARATIONS FOR CAPE AND CSEC EXAMINATIONSThe COVID-19 Pandemic has caused severe disruptions in the lives of many and is having significant impact upon education systems globally. Many education systems have faced a rapid shutdown. In the Caribbean, the onslaught of the Pandemic by March 2020 brought closures to our education system. In Trinidad and Tobago in an effort to control the spread of the virus, all schools were closed on March 13, 2020 in the first instance for one week, followed by announcements of closures until April 20 and the latest announcement by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, The Honourable Dr Keith Rowley, that schools will re-open in September, 2020. CSEC and CAPE Examinations 2020The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) is the regional body responsible for assessment at the levels of CSEC and CAPE Levels. Over the past two weeks, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has been monitoring developments across the CARICOM region and working closely with representatives from the Ministries of Education and tertiary institutions to arrive at a regional consensus on how the exams should be administered. After several meetings between CARICOM Ministries of Education and the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) the regional body responsible for assessment and guided by protocols established by (CARPHA) and the Ministries of Health CXC announced on Saturday May 09 that consensus has been obtained for regional CSEC and CAPE Examinations to be held in July 2020. This decision was taken based on consultation with Education and Health officials’ ability to create a safe environment for students to prepare for and sit the regional exams.REVISED EXAMINATIONS STRATEGY FOR CSEC AND CAPE EXAMINATIONSCXC has proposed a revised examinations strategy for the administration of May/June 2020 examinations. The Council stated that the revised structure will minimise disruption to the 2020/2021 academic year.??The Council also stated while the proposed revised administration schedule for the May/June 2020 examinations is July 2020, it will continue to be guided by national protocols across the regions. The Council added that it will continue to monitor the emerging situation as it relates to the virus pandemic, but assured that its first priority is the health and well-being of all its stakeholders. CXC Registrar, Dr Wayne Wesley, explained what the administration of the modified examination process for the award of valid grades and preserving the integrity of the examinations would entail.The Council has decided on a modified examination process as follows:???Administration of at least one common paper (Multiple Choice Assessments) and where applicable, additional assessment components along with appropriate modelling accounting for historical data and teacher predicted information.School Based Assessments (SBAs) and Paper 032s (Alternative to SBA) for private candidatesAward final grades based on the moderated SBAs and Multiple- Choice Papers.Results will be released the first week in September 2020The COHSOD agreed to have examinations administered via an e-Testing modality in countries that are equipped with the requisite infrastructure.The COHSOD also agreed to have examinations administered via an e-Testing modality in countries that are equipped with the requisite infrastructure. Where there are infrastructure challenges, the COHSOD said candidates would be allowed to sit paper-based examinations.EXCEPTIONSThere are exceptions in Modern Languages (Spanish, French and Portuguese), Human and Social Biology and Visual Arts, where candidates will be required to complete additional components.The CXC said the revised examinations strategy will also provide an opportunity for the timely presentation of grades to facilitate matriculation to higher education or to access employment.Students and teachers are urged to make use of the CXC Learning Hub – an e-Learning platform which provides learners and instructors with a single access point to multiple resources geared towards exam preparation. The e-learning platform is available at: learninghub..Qualifications for entry into UWI CXC in collaboration with the UWI presented another proposal at the meeting in relation to requirements for CAPE applicants for 2020 admission.Their proposal to accept CAPE Unit 1 plus previous results to serve as matriculation to UWI for the next academic year was accepted by the Council.WHEN WILL PARENTS AND STUDENTS BE INFORMED OF EXAMINATION SCHEDULES?Principals will make direct contact with parents via video-conferencing and other modes of communication pertaining to the examinations as soon as final documents are received from the Council.PREPARATIONS AT BATCE FOR CSEC AND CAPE EXAMINATIONSBATCE wants to assure our stakeholders and particularly our students and parents that we will continue the provision of quality service during these complex times and provide the support needed by our students and staff. All efforts are being made to attain a safe and virus- free environment for all students and staff when they engage in the examinations. Maintaining a Virus – free EnvironmentThe schools continue to work closely in collaboration with TRINCOL, our facilities management company, in ensuring that the compound remains virus free. Guidelines and public health advisories provided by the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO and CARPHA are all being adhered to.Increased frequency of cleaning of all high-touched areas has been institutedAdditional sanitization materials, hand sanitizers and hand-washing facilities will be provided in frequently utilized areas.The cleaning/ sanitization of all examination areas at the beginning of each examination will be required- am and pmwearing of mask by all persons entering the campus and for the duration of the visit has been institutedVisits by external and internal persons to the campus have been restricted. Only authorised persons are permitted on the compound as a means of monitoring used areas and to maintain the security of the campus.Education Awareness ProgrammePrior to the closure of schools, BATCE embarked upon an Education Awareness Programme on COVID-19. This programme is supported by information placed on the schools’ website where a specific page is devoted to information about the virus. This is also supplemented by the schools’ BATCE STAR Newsletters for March 2020 and the special edition, April 2020 and also regular updates on the schools’ Facebook and Instagram pages. It is important that staff, students and stakeholders be provided with reliable and timely information.Psychological well-being of students and staffThe COVID19 Pandemic has created immense stress, fears, anxieties, trauma and other psycho- social fears on students, staff and their families. Unless these emotional states are attended to staff cannot perform at their best and students’ attention will be at zero and therefore learning will be inhibited. Special sessions and services have been provided for staff to ensure that mentally they are equipped to engage in the multi-level functions they are required to carry out. Schools continue to conduct school assemblies and motivational talk to students. Hotline services provided by the schools’ guidance officers and social workers have been shared, as well as services provided by the Student Support Services of the Ministry of Education.Physical/ Social DistancingThe requirements for physical distancing specified by Health Officials and the Ministry of National Security must be adhered to as a means of reducing the spread of the campus. A current assessment is being made of all the available classrooms, specialist rooms, IT Laboratories and other spaces to determine adequate spacing among students engaged in examinations. Students at TCE and BAHSE are registered to participate in 25 subjects. The largest student populations (365) and space will be required for Maths and Language.Students at BATCE Sixth Form are registered to participate in 24 subjects at CAPE Unit 1 and 22 subjects at CAPE Unit 2. The maximum number of students to be catered for will be in the area of Caribbean Studies Unit 1 (205 students) and Unit 2 (141 students).Statistics on student population per subject area will be weighted against available room to determine the best social distancing as required.Teaching/ Learning/ RevisionThroughout these complex times, staff at BATCE continue to work tirelessly in efforts to motivate, inspire and encourage all students to give off their best and urge parents to encourage their children to attend the online sessions provided by staff. BATCE Staff have been engaging in amazing work and remain committed to the attainment of academic excellence and the achievement of goals by students. Our Library department continue to provide online learning materials and other resources for both students and staff. Parents are required to ensure that their children have submitted all their SBA requirements within the deadline dates stipulated.WHAT BATCE HAS CONSIDEREDMental well-being of students and staff engaged in CSEC and CAPE ExaminationsRequirements for the physical layout of classrooms in relation to physical and social distancingIncreased sanitization of the campusThe cleaning of examination areas, including all desks and chairs and high- touched areas, prior to morning examinations at the end of examinations in the morning for preparation for afternoon examinationsThe mandatory wearing of masks by all persons on entering and duration of being on the compound.Necessity to issue reminders, display flyers and announcements on good hygienic practices prior and end of examinations.The provision of additional sinks, hand sanitizers stations for students and examiners to wash handsCURRENT POSITIONThree large groups are expected to sit examinations at the campus during the July 2020 period. Logistics will determine the capability of BATCE to accommodate all students onsite.The schools have submitted their data pertaining to the number of students sitting the examinations per subject area. Examination schedules have been received and these will be matched against the number of participants per subject area and room space available for examinationsWe are awaiting information from TRINCOL pertaining to the number of classrooms, specialist rooms, IT Labs etc and spaces availableIt is anticipated by the end of May 2020, the BATCE Team will be able to determine its capabilities and requirements needed.CONCLUSIONBATCE wants to assure that our staff, students and stakeholders remain confident in our capabilities to give our best. We urge that you don't allow yourselves to be overwhelmed by the negative news about the pandemic, instead, let us focus on collaborative work with our team members and uplifting them. We urge that parents assist by encouraging their charges to attend the online sessions given by BATCE Teachers, that their children complete all outstanding SBA assignments: also to utilise other resources/ learning hubs as those provided by the Ministry of Education and CXC. Self-empowerment and determination by students must be encouraged. ................
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