The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has awarded 14 top performing students sitting this year’s May/June Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) external tests.
The students, who hail from Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, were celebrated during CXC’s 2024 Top Awards Ceremony in St. Lucia on Thursday (December 5).
Shanoya Morgan of St. Andrew High School for Girls, received the Menezes-Rodney Award, presented to the most outstanding candidate in CSEC History.
Montego Bay Community College’s Noella Brown earned the CAPE award for most outstanding candidate in Humanities.
This year’s most outstanding candidates in the CAPE and CSEC examinations, Aniyah Couchman and Dave Chowtie, respectively, hail from Queen’s College in Guyana.
Aniyah achieved Grade One in 20 subjects and Grades Two and Three in one subject each. Dave scored Grade One in 25 subjects and Grade Two in four.
In his address, St. Lucia’s Minister of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, Hon. Shawn Edward, commended the students on their “remarkable achievements.”
“Your achievements stand as a testament to your hard work, discipline and unyielding commitment to excellence. You have proven that with determination, resilience and an appetite for knowledge, the highest levels of academic success are possible at your school, in your country and in the wider Caribbean region,” he said.
Mr. Edward told the awardees that this success is not the culmination of their journey, but rather a significant milestone which should fuel their passion for greater accomplishments and accolades.
“Let this moment serve as both a recognition of your success and a springboard for even greater achievements,” he underscored.
Meanwhile, Mr. Edward said CXC has played a pivotal role in advancing educational excellence by being a beacon of academic rigour, innovation and cultural relevance, adding that the institution must be supported as the region prepares for the future.
“It is our collective responsibility – parents, educators, policy makers and the Caribbean Examinations Council – to create an environment that nurtures talent, fosters innovation and ensures that every child in the Caribbean has access to quality education. Let this evening’s celebration inspire us to work together to build a region where academic excellence is not the exception, but instead the norm,” Mr. Edward stated.
For his part, St. Lucia’s Prime Minister, Hon. Philip J. Pierre, charged the awardees to tackle critical Caribbean issues.
“In St. Lucia and in the Caribbean, we are seeing some negative things – male underperformance, high dropout rates and the rise of gun-related crimes. This is not just one person’s problem or one country’s problem, it is everyone’s problem. We are witnessing this across the entire Caribbean region and it’s a matter that you, the brightest minds, as well as our institutions must put thought to and ask ‘what can I do to help?’” he said.
Mr. Pierre noted that it is a struggle that politicians and Prime Ministers have to face daily, emphasising this as a matter that must be solved if the region is to sustain and grow Caribbean civilisation.
“Whatever you pursue, remember the purpose of knowledge. It must be for the betterment of our humanity and betterment of our civilisation. Whether you choose to pursue agriculture, finance, medicine, engineering, law, whether you choose to develop artificial intelligence or produce works of art, whatever you pursue, do it with passion and do it for the greater good of all,” Prime Minister Pierre said.