KINGSTON, Jamaica —The National Secondary Students’ Council (NSSC) is urging school administrators to involve students in the decision-making process regarding the Caribbean Examinations Council’s (CXC) modified assessment option for the 2026 CSEC and CAPE examinations.

The call follows a recent announcement by CXC that schools in parishes affected by Hurricane Melissa will have the option to implement a modified assessment, allowing schools to assess students using only Paper 1 and the school-based assessment (SBA) instead of the full examination.

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The NSSC, in a media release, said while it welcomes the initiative, especially for schools that have experienced prolonged closures or delays, any decision to adapt the modified assessment must follow thorough consultation with the students sitting the exams.

“The Council urges school administrators to ensure students are properly consulted and involved before deciding whether to adapt the modified option or proceed with the standard structure,” it said.

According to the NSSC, this can be achieved through conducting surveys among students sitting the examinations, holding meetings with student representative bodies, such as the Students’ Council and organising general meetings with students.

It said engaging student councils and other bodies through these methods will promote transparency and ensure decisions reflect the challenges faced by students as Jamaica works to restore normalcy.