Head of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) Owen Speid says he is giving the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) a failing grade for its decision to have secondary students across the region sit exit exams in July, despite the danger of COVID-19.
I just think that CXC is simply trying to get through its business at the expense of the children's health,” he argued, pointing out that with numerous positive cases of children with COVID-19 in Jamaica, administering the exams in July is a significant risk.
Speid told the Jamaica Observer yesterday: “We don't know where those children are in Jamaica; we know that once you have a number that has been tested positive, then right off the bat that number is not just as is, you will always have more out there, especially among children.”
He stressed that students' health must be at the forefront of all decisions, and pointed to at least one other country which tentatively reopened schools and reported a spike in COVID-19 cases.
The children are going to be out there travelling among people and other children who may have this virus, and you have to consider, as well, the invigilators who will be asked to come to these centres,” Speid said.