KINGSTON, Jamaica — Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has decided to allow schools to submit School Based Assessment samples that were not submitted by the July 31 deadline.

In a news release late Tuesday, CXC said the decision was reached in an effort to ensure that the principles of natural justice and fairness are upheld and after appeal by some ministries of education.

CXC noted that the matter is being adjudicated based on a special circumstance consideration, bearing in mind the challenges arising from operational changes implemented in 2016.

The regional examination council reportedly requested that local registrars in affected countries submit SBA samples from the affected schools.

CXC said: “In an effort to maintain the integrity of the examination grades and to ensure that the late submission does not provide an advantage to the candidates in question, CXC has requested that the following conditions should be met:

a) That a larger sample comprising 20 additional SBAs needs to be submitted in instances where the total number of candidates from a centre is 20 or more,

b) The work of the entire population is submitted where less than 25 candidates are registered at a centre.”

Approximately 40 students from Penwood High School received ‘ungraded’ scores for six subjects sat in this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams, due to the failure to submit samples of their SBAs by the July 31 deadline.

CXC said the appeal made to the council for hardship consideration did not fit within the specific articles of the council’s hardship rules.

“Through increased stringent quality assured processes, CXC will ensure that candidates will be given the grade they justly deserve, while at the same time preserving the integrity of the council,” CXC said.

The samples are to be submitted to the CXC local registrars’ offices by September 14 and to reach CXC headquarters by September 16.

“It must be noted that this matter has been adjudicated based on special circumstances, bearing in mind the challenges arising from operational changes and in no way sets a precedent for the future,” CXC pointed out.