BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved a grant of more than half a million US dollars to the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) to support the delivery of the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) Environmental Science (ES) syllabus.

The project will include the development of a digital toolkit, which aims to improve students’ performance in the examination.

CDB said it will provide US$641,000 and CXC will contribute US$213,000 towards the project, which is consistent with the Bank’s strategic objective of supporting inclusive and sustainable growth and development, as well as its corporate priority of improving the quality of, and access to education and training and citizen security.

CDB director of projects, Daniel Best, said that the project will promote greater environmental awareness among the broader population, fill gaps that exist in the delivery of the Environmental Science curriculum, and improve mastery of the subject by both teachers and students.

“Current results suggest that students struggle with topics related to basic ecological principles; pollution and the environment; and sustainable energy use.

“These topics are key to national and regional sustainability priorities, and are critical to encouraging change in attitudes, practices and behaviours. In addition, Environmental Science students have the potential to take advantage of new and emerging opportunities in the green economy,” said Best.

The digital toolkit developed as part of the project will be available free of charge to all students doing the Environmental Science exam.

Information will be presented in multiple formats, including case studies, instructional videos, images, infographics and podcasts. Teachers from 16 countries will also be trained in the use of the toolkit during five three-day workshops.

A communications campaign will also be implemented to encourage interest and awareness of the Environmental Science subject area. CXC will create virtual learning groups and launch a media campaign, inclusive of social media.