Thousands Absent – By Kisean Joseph[email protected]
Thousands Absent Cxc Flags
The Caribbean Examinations Council says exam irregularities rose sharply this year, including AI misuse for the first time, while tens of thousands of students across the region missed their exams entirely, leaving them ungraded.
CXC’s Director of Operations, Dr Nicole Manning, presented the 2026 regional results during the official release ceremony, showing a CAPE pass rate of 93.52 percent and a CSEC pass rate of 72.18 percent, a slight increase over last year. However, Manning flagged serious concerns over absenteeism and exam misconduct that continue to affect thousands of candidates across the Caribbean.
According to Manning, 32,403 CSEC candidates did not turn up for their exams this year, while a further 3,534 CAPE candidates were also absent. She explained that a candidate who is absent cannot be graded, as they have missed a required component of the assessment.
“32,403 candidates not turning up for exams is something that the education system across the region has to be concerned about,” Manning said. “It is something that the Caribbean Examinations Council is concerned about, and we are working very hard to encourage our candidates to turn up.”
Manning said CXC’s own surveys suggest some candidates stay away because they feel unprepared. She urged them to sit the exam regardless.
Turning to exam misconduct, Manning said irregularities also rose sharply this year, climbing from 80 cases to 128, with candidates in some instances committing the same violation across multiple examinations.
“This year we saw a whopping 128, moving from 80,” she said. “Use of unauthorised devices, this represented the largest instance reported. Two, collusion, where candidates are trying to work with each other in an exam to complete the exam. Thirdly, use of unauthorised material and the new one on the block, AI misuse. We have never had this before. This is new.”
Candidates found to have committed an irregularity face cancelled grades or disqualification, according to Manning.
On a more positive note, Manning said CXC continues to support candidates facing genuine hardship through its compassionate consideration process. This year, 359 candidates were assisted under this provision, covering circumstances such as medical conditions or bereavement, ensuring they were not disadvantaged despite challenges in their personal lives.
CXC has said it will continue engaging Ministries of Education across the region to address both the absenteeism and misconduct trends going forward.
