Cxc Host – By Kisean Joseph
Cxc Host Inaugural Regional
The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) is set to host its inaugural Regional Education Conference in Kingston, Jamaica, from March 16th to 19th, bringing together more than 300 delegates from 27 countries to address some of the most pressing challenges currently facing Caribbean education.
CXC Registrar and CEO Dr Wayne Wesley, who announced the conference, said the gathering has drawn participants from across the Caribbean’s 21 islands, as well as from Malta, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Bahamas, and the Netherlands.
“This conference will be more than just talk. Pre-conference and full conference workshops will ensure that educators and practitioners share and learn from their peers and experts in the field,” Dr Wesley said.
Themed “Navigating the Digital Age — Rethinking Teaching, Learning and Assessment”, workshops will focus on improving mathematics performance, exploring artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging digital technologies, supporting students with exceptional needs, and advancing student-centred learning. Six international partner organisations are involved, among them the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Director of Operations Dr Nicole Manning said the conference would go beyond technology.
“We want to ensure that we provide the necessary support to students with exceptional needs, fostering a growth mindset and rethinking traditional teaching methods to enhance authenticity, interactivity and accessibility,” she said.
Running concurrently is the 2026 CXC Ministerial Forum, where 13 ministerial representatives — 11 of whom are serving ministers — will convene, with five joining virtually. Moderated by CXC Deputy Chair Dr Marcia Potter, the forum will stream live across the region.
The event consolidates two signature CXC gatherings after last year’s ministerial summit was postponed due to Hurricane Melissa. Dr Eduardo Ali, who oversees the forum, said its agenda builds on commitments made at the October 2024 Transforming Education Symposium in the Cayman Islands, with three priorities being advanced: governance mechanisms and digital platforms, comprehensive curricular reform, and investment in digital infrastructure including artificial intelligence.
Regional bodies CARICOM, the OECS, and the Commonwealth of Learning are playing key roles. A formal partnership agreement with an employers’ consortium of four regional umbrella bodies is also set to be signed, underpinning the Occupational Skills Intelligence System (OSIS) — a mechanism through which skills and job data will be gathered to keep CXC qualifications aligned with labour market trends.
“Our intention is to create meaningful gains and results for the region’s education system,” Dr Ali said.
Meanwhile, registration also continues for CXC’s Caribbean Targeted Education Certificate (CTEC), a flexible, job-readiness qualification with 796 candidates already enrolled. Dr Ali, Pro-Registrar and DeputyCEO of CXC, additionally announced plans to launch the CXC Caribbean Journal of Educational Assessment, which will publish manuscripts from conference presenters for distribution across regional higher education institutions.
