REGISTRAR and chief executive officer of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Dr Wayne Wesley says the entity is working in tandem with Jamaica’s Ministry of Education to craft “a relief plan” for candidates here who are registered to sit examinations in the January and May-June 2026 sessions.

This comes as the island claws its way back to normality from the widespread damage and dislocation caused by Hurricane Melissa last month.

According to the Government, more than 600 educational institutions sustained damage during the passage of the Category 5 hurricane, ranging from leaks to total destruction, forcing thousands of children out of the classroom.

So far classes have resumed in just over 600 schools but many students in the south-western section of the island are facing long delays before they resume classes.

Tuesday, Dr Wesley, responding to queries from the Jamaica Observer, said, “CXC deeply empathises with the nation of Jamaica during these unprecedented times. We are acutely aware of the widescale dislocation and hardships faced by many families and individuals; and of the determined efforts of the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (MOEYSI) to bring urgent relief to students, parents and teachers, who are understandably concerned about the loss of learning at schools devastated by Hurricane Melissa”.

He added that “CXC is alert to the concerns of candidates based in Jamaica”, and said the entity has, “been actively collaborating with the [education] ministry to determine the most suitable measures of support in the form of a relief plan for candidates sitting the upcoming Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence examinations”.

“Once this MOEYSI relief plan has been finalised, CXC will publicise the information widely. CXC’s thoughts are continuously with our resilient Jamaica-based candidates, and we pledge to do our best to facilitate your preparation and successful sitting of your examinations.”

Last Thursday, addressing a special press briefing focused on recovery from Hurricane Melissa at Jamaica House in St Andrew, and outlining plans for the phased reopening of schools, Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon said the ministry intends to prioritise students who are doing exams such as the Primary Exit Profile, CSEC and CAPE.

Hurricane Melissa, which now holds pride of place as the most extreme storm ever to make landfall in Jamaica, packing winds of 185 miles per hour, made landfall on October 28 near New Hope, Westmoreland, causing ruinous flooding across the southern and western belt of the island.

The system, which mauled St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, Montego Bay in St James, and Trelawny — with the most impacted being St Elizabeth and Westmoreland — exited the country after effecting untold damage on infrastructure, vegetation and lives.

A section of St Elizabeth Technical High School, one of many high schools in the country damaged by Hurricane Melissa, and displacing students due to sit external exams.