PRESIDENT of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) Leighton Johnson has welcomed the stance by the Ministry of Education to strongly oppose a plan by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) to discontinue four subjects at the CSEC and CAPE levels.

“I have not seen, heard, or had any dialogue with the Ministry of Education… regarding CXC’s official position of removing four critical subject disciplines from its offerings…[But] as a nation I believe that the Ministry of Education could not make any other choice but to insist that Jamaica will continue to offer these subjects and for them to indicate that CXC has made a bad decision,” Johnson told the Jamaica Observer.

“As a nation we have a STEM [science, engineering, technology and mathematics] focus and these subject disciplines are critical to Jamaica’s national sustainable development goals. I believe, too, that going forward there has to be more open and transparent dialogue involving CXC, the Ministry of Education and stakeholders to ensure that nothing of this nature takes us by surprise,” added Johnson.

CXC has hinted that it plans to discontinue offering agricultural science (double award), mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering and technology, and green engineering, because of the low number of students registering to sit these examinations.

But at a post-Cabinet media briefing on Wednesday Minister of Education Fayval Williams declared that Jamaica is not prepared to accept that decision.

“Having registered the concerns of principals and other concerned Jamaicans, in no uncertain terms, we will be meeting with CXC, along with other regional education ministers…to address concerns with respect to the discontinuance or suspension policy,” said Williams.

“I want to assure Jamaicans that the Ministry of Education and Youth is fully in support of the continuance of these four subjects. We will report back to our principals and the wider Jamaica community on the meeting with CXC on June 4th and [a] meeting with the region’s education ministers,” Williams added.

She noted that CXC was established by the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to serve member countries so decisions such as what subjects are to be offered, “Ought rightfully to be discussed by education ministers from member countries prior to public announcements”.

“I would like to note as well that across the Caribbean other colleague education ministers are very concerned about this discontinuance decision and as a body we have decided to take the matter to Council for Human and Social Development, a community of the Caricom which seeks to promote and develop coordinated policies and programmes,” added Williams as she pointed out that some 1,383 students in Jamaica were entered for the four subjects.

Williams underscored that Jamaica is moving towards becoming a STEM country with the four subjects, which CXC plans to discontinue, being key components.

“At a meeting held with principals on May 21, it was unanimously agreed that these subjects should be continued. We will engage further with our principals to hear from them as to the support they will need. We will increase awareness of these subject areas under the STEM and TVET (technical and vocational education and training) agendas, and the value of the subjects to our national development,” said Williams.

In a release on Wednesday, CXC said it is aware of the concerns being expressed by its valued stakeholders, based on the “premature release of correspondence addressed to the ministries of education concerning syllabus suspension”.

According to CXC, “This situation is regrettable and understandably would have caused anxiety among our key stakeholder groups. In order to address the matter, CXC has scheduled a meeting with the ministers of education and will provide a full update to the public, through a press release, thereafter. CXC assures our valued stakeholders that the requisite actions will be taken in the best interest of all”.