KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has agreed to extend the examination timetable for Jamaica.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, made the announcement in the Senate on November 21.

The minister was responding to questions, following a statement on the impact and response to Hurricane Melissa.

Morris Dixon also informed that no final decision has been taken on the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations.

“In terms of PEP, we are looking at extending the dates for PEP. We have not made a final decision on PEP…but we are going to have to extend the dates there. In terms of CXC, they have already agreed to extend the timetable for exams for Jamaica. So, we will have a longer period, so our exams will be later than the other territories, so that’s already in train,” she added.

She further informed that an announcement will soon be made regarding lower CXC fees.

“We have been negotiating lower fees for our students; by next week, you will hear more on what the final amount is,” she said.

Meanwhile, Senator Morris Dixon said that in recognising the critical threat to students preparing for external examinations, the ministry has adopted targeted strategies.

She said discussions are advanced with the Caribbean Examinations Council to determine necessary relief, including adjustments to deadlines and requirements for School-Based Assessments (SBAs) and practical examinations.

“We are looking at how we can change the deadlines for those, and there is a lot of flexibility built in. We are also looking at flexibility in syllabus coverage and also cost implications; also, provision of options for students to reduce the number of exams they sit based on their situation,” she said.

As it relates to the National Vocational Qualification of Jamaica (NVQ-J), the inister informed that the November sitting has been postponed.

She noted that examinations are tentatively rescheduled for February 2026, with a further option in June 2026, to allow students and institutions adequate time to prepare.

Turning to City & Guilds, she said the entity has proposed a two-cohort examination model with sittings in June and November 2026, offering increased flexibility for schools in the most severely impacted regions.

“We are working with our primary external partners to ease the burden on our children as best as possible,” Morris Dixon said.

More than 600 educational institutions sustained damage during the passage of the category five hurricane, which made landfall on October 28.

— JIS