CXC CEO Warns of University Matriculation Crisis as 11,500 Students Fail to Pass Core Subjects

By Abigayle McIntosh

Approximately 11,500 students may be unable to matriculate into university due to their failure to secure passing grades in Mathematics and English Language.

This concerning statistic was highlighted by Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), Dr. Wayne Wesley, during the official release of the 2024 exam results on Tuesday.

Dr. Wesley emphasized that poor performance in these core subjects significantly impacts students’ ability to reach their full potential.

He explained, “It is having a negative effect on the economic competitiveness of the region because fewer students are able to drive the innovation needed for the economy to advance and for critical thinking and problem-solving skills to develop.”

He stressed the urgency of addressing the issue: “We are in a very challenging time. We need to give greater attention to Mathematics and English. Let’s ensure that students leaving the school system, if they don’t have anything else, are at least numerate and literate.”

The 2024 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examinations (CSEC) results revealed that only 34% of students across the region attained passing grades in Mathematics, marking the lowest pass rate since 2021 and a 7% decline from last year.

Dr. Wesley pointed out that these subjects are foundational for all other learning and achievements, and emphasized the need for greater focus on them, given the troubling trends over the past five years.

Dr. Wesley also noted an increase in the number of students registering for English Language, with approximately 73,000 candidates compared to 79,000 for Mathematics.

However, while the average performance in English over recent years has been around 79-80%, Mathematics has lagged significantly, with average performance between 55-59%.

“In fact, when we strictly apply the entire cohort, you’re actually looking at about 44%,” Dr. Wesley explained. “Further analysis of students obtaining five or more subjects revealed that only about 6% of the entire cohort achieved this milestone.”

To address this critical issue, CXC has commissioned a team to develop literacy and numeracy standards.

These standards will be used alongside Artificial Intelligence to design targeted interventions that address errors and identify opportunities for student development.

“This program will complement existing efforts within the education system,” Dr. Wesley noted.

“While it is not intended to be a panacea, it reflects our commitment as an examining body to support the educational ecosystem, which involves not just the Ministry of Education, but also the Caribbean Examinations Council.”