On Friday, 29 January 2021, the Caribbean Examinations Council® (CXC®) launched the organisation’s Strategic Plan for 2021 – 2025 at the Pegasus Hotel in Jamaica, to staff and specially invited guests, including former Governor General of Jamaica and former Chairman of CXC®, Professor Sir Kenneth Hall, now Chancellor of the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, (UCC). The five-year plan entitled “Committed to our people – shaping our future”, was ratified at the 53rd annual governance meeting of the CXC® Council (The Board), which was held virtually on 4 December 2020.
At the launch event, Dr Wayne Wesley, Registrar and CEO and Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Chairman of CXC® Council, shared the strategic objectives of the plan and their significance. Stakeholder partners including: Dr Grace McLean, Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, who represented the Honourable Fayval Williams, Minister of Education, Youth and Information; Mr Dexroy Martin, Senior Negotiating Officer of the National Workers’ Union of Jamaica and Mr Keone James of CXC®, representative of the Principal Staff Association of CXC® and the Barbados Workers’ Union, also shared their perspectives and support for the Strategic Plan. The programme was rounded out with a motivational keynote address by Mrs Ethnie Miller Simpson, Chief Growth Officer & CEO of Zinergy International, who encouraged staff to “rise up and be extra” in everything they do.
Dr Wesley disclosed the vision for stakeholder engagement to those in attendance and viewing online, “We recognise that CXC® can no longer see itself as an individual entity but a part of a regional enterprise within which we must recognise and collaborate with those critical partners that are important for us in moving forward. Such collaboration will be executed within an inclusive, decision-making framework where we recognise that whatever we ought or want to achieve, such achievement can only be fully appreciated when we’re all on the same page.”
The emerging regional enterprise will be Integrated – working collaboratively with all stakeholders, Flexible – being able to adjust to efficiently and effectively meet the needs of its stakeholders, Responsive – demonstrating the capacity to remain relevant and innovative, and Proactive – anticipating and actively addressing challenges.
In his address, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles reflected, “We have been tested in 2020 and continue to be tested by the COVID-19 pandemic. We have learnt many important lessons from the perspective of strategy, flexibility and agility and those lessons have been taken to heart. But we have remained steadfast, and this strategic plan will take us into the future with even greater alacrity, while we maintain the dignity of this noble institution.”
The new strategic plan was developed to direct CXC’s transformation for greater regional impact. The organisation’s strategic management approach will ensure that the Council is repositioned as a digitally transformed enterprise providing quality, relevant and globally recognised educational services.
Dr Grace McLean expressed in her address, “The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is indeed pleased with the strategic direction that the Caribbean Examinations Council® has decided to take over the next four years. This is an important move by the regional examination body for secondary level exit examinations and complimentary services, as we seek to be more efficient and effective in the provision of these services.”
During the event, partnerships were also formalised with The University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica and the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ) by way of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs). These MOUs will allow students with CXC® qualifications to receive transfer credits at tertiary institutions and between CXC® and the signing institutions, there will be cooperation on curriculum and assessment development, training and research. Professor Colin Gyles, Acting President of UTech, Jamaica and Dr Donna Powell-Wilson, Executive Director of the CCCJ were on hand at the event to sign the MOUs and deliver remarks.