Former Jamaica PM Wants New Education Thrust

Photo above: Former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. P.J. Patterson (2nd right), and Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (2nd left), peruse a copy of the newly published book, A History of the Caribbean Examination Council, 1973-2013, written by Historian and Professor Emeritus, Patrick Bryan (right), during the publication’s recent launch at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston. Also pictured is former Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Didacus Jules. Photo credit: Jamaica Information Service (JIS).

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Former prime minister, P.J. Patterson, is calling on regional institutions such as the Barbados-based Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) to further restructure the curricula and tests for students to significantly enhance their ability to thoroughly analyze questions and problems, and come up with practical answers and solutions.

Patterson noted that “to promote the type of education that should be undertaken for contemporary society, it is suggested that examination questions be designed to determine abilities to understand, and use information in practical situations, to collate facts across disciplines, to find appropriate answers to real life problems, and reinterpret old questions in light of new facts.”

The former prime minister addressing the recent launch of the publication: A History of the Caribbean Examination Council, 1973-2013, written by Historian and Professor Emeritus Patrick Bryan, spoke on the theme “Regional Relevance: International Credibility”.

He said he welcomed and endorsed the CXC’s School-Based Assessment (SBA) program, which is tailored to attaining these objectives.

“The…School-Based Assessment…affords the flexibility of teachers in the choice of assessment methods, it allows students to be subject to continuous diagnosis, and it also permits credits for class work assignment,” Patterson said.

He also urged the CXC to support activities in the animation sector, among other creative engagements.

“Look at existing courses in order to package them better for the spread of the knowledge-based economy, and thereby contribute to the building of our creative and cultural industries as prime assets of the entire Caribbean.

“If we put, as we must, the development of our human capital resources at the top of our agenda for national growth and development, then, creativity of knowledge and information has to be at the core of our reality,” he contended.

Patterson described the publication as a narrative of the “struggle for scholastic emancipation and to refute any notion that we are incapable of creating, in the region, something which is superior to anything which imposed from abroad,” and commended the author on a “brilliant work of scholarship.”