There has been a deafening silence from officials of the Ministry of Education, who, up to press time late Friday, were yet to comment on allegations that the leak of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) mathematics paper two on Wednesday originated in Jamaica.

The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) early Friday pointed to Jamaica as the source of the breach despite initial claims that it had occurred in Guyana.

“The security measures that CXC has put in place have led to us to locating the country as Jamaica and the examinations centre there where the leak originated,” CXC registrar and chief executive officer, Dr Wayne Wesley, told a mid-morning media briefing on Friday.

With Jamaica facing the regional spotlight, the Jamaica Observer made strenuous efforts to contact officials of the education ministry for a comment without success.

Minister of Education Fayval Williams was said to be at a function and unable to respond, while Acting Chief Education Officer Dr Kasan Troupe directed our news team to the ministry’s communications unit, citing established protocols.

But even as the ministry remained silent, National Secondary Students’ Council President Dannyelle-Jordan Bailey told the Observer that she found the claim of Jamaica being the originator of the leak to be “quite surprising”.

“Most of the leaks in the previous years, that were never publicised, didn’t originate in Jamaica. Also, based on the responses from the students, they felt the bias as they assume other Caribbean countries created the leak. Bias in the sense that CXC proceeded with the exams despite the claims,” said Bailey.

She argued that the leak takes away from the development and credibility of the Caribbean as every year that these claims are made it makes the region less competitive on the global market.

“When we look at other examination boards such as the College Board exams, International Baccalaureate, etcetera, we rarely hear claims of leaks and as a result, these examinations and certifications are seen as more substantive as prerequisites,” said Bailey.

The student leader said she expects transparency from CXC and for the body to reveal “the roots and evidence” of its investigation, as a claim like this carries great impact.

“Additionally, it is a known fact that mathematics is a subject that students have continuously struggled with over the years, but it is disheartening to know that the struggle could have led to a leak in the system — whether committed by a Jamaican or not,” she said.

In the meantime, principal of Ardenne High School Nadine Molloy, while not addressing the claim that the exam paper was leaked in Jamaica, told the Observer that it was unfortunate that a breach occurred and she is particularly concerned for the students who prepared to sit the paper.

“There are students who studied, did a lot of work, sat this paper two and they will not be able to use it now. I find that very sad.” said Molloy.

She noted that like all other examining bodies, the CXC has protocols that would govern if there are irregularities with their examinations, which educational institutions would need to adhere to.

While repeating her concern for the students now sitting examinations, Molloy encouraged them to double down and go forward with all the exams that they have left, all the papers that they have to sit and do their best.

Earlier Dr Wesley told the media briefing that as a result of the breach, “and the compromise of the examination as well as consideration of mental health and well-being of candidates and timely release of results…the CXC has determined that grades for this examination will be awarded using the modified approach”.

He said that modified approach would entail the assessment of the School Based Assessment (SBA) and paper one, which was multiple choice.

“This decision was communicated to regional ministries of education in our meeting this morning,” Wesley said.

He added that the regional examination body — which has more than 30 years of experience in developing syllabuses, formulating tests, administering examinations, issuing results and analysing statistics for large-scale examinations — would like to reassure candidates that the security of the regional examinations is paramount.

According to Wesley, the CXC and regional ministries of education recognise that candidates spent months preparing for their mathematics paper two exam and that the news of the security breach of the examination caused much anxiety and concern.

He said the best interest of candidates “continues to be at the centre of the organisation’s decision and processes.”

Students from across the region wrote the exam on Wednesday even as the CXC said it had been made aware of the concerns that the examination had been leaked.