2013 National Science and Technology Exposition
A number of students across the nation displayed their creativity, innovation and desire to invent, with the launch of the National Science and Technology Exposition from (Mon 21st- Friday 25th January).
The event started over 3 decades ago as a way of motivating students’ interest in studying Science, to foster students’ interest in the teaching profession as teachers of Science, to stimulate students’ creativity, innovation and the desire to invent and to motivate students’ interest in local, regional and international issues that relate to conservation of the environment, poverty reduction and food security.
The National Science and Technology Exposition was a production of the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with St. Vincent and the Grenadines Science Teachers’ Association. It was made possible this year with the assistance of St. Vincent Electricity Services, ECGC
and St. Vincent Brewery Ltd.
A student from Roman Catholic School displaying his project
A student from Kingstown Preparatory School displaying his project
Administration of CPEA
There will soon be a more comprehensive approach to the way students are assessed at the end of their Primary Education here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. If all goes according to plans, the Common Entrance Examination may be replaced by the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA), the regional examination to assess students’ literacies at the end of the primary cycle.
A team from the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) visited St. Vincent and the Grenadines from January 14th to 16th 2013, conducted training of Education Officers, head teachers, teachers and parents in the administration of the CPEA. The CXC is the regional examination body mandated to develop and administer the CPEA.
According to the CXC, “The CPEA responds to calls from regional heads of government for a regional primary exit examination under technical cooperation”. It is an assessment of the key literacies required by all students exiting the primary school system. The CPEA focuses on a set of key literacies which are common to all primary curricula and are necessary for students to optimize achievement at the secondary level and in life. These include mathematical literacies, language literacies, civic literacies and scientific literacies.
Contrary to the fears expressed by some educators, the CPEA does not require a change in the current curriculum, but a more structured approach to instruction and assessment. The CPEA framework allows students multiple opportunities to showcase their learning and to improve their competencies and performance on various tasks.
To facilitate the smooth transition into this initiative, the Ministry of Education has decided that students of the current Grade 5 will begin using the CPEA framework so that they and their teachers may become familiar with it. These students will then move on to grade 6 and be presented for the CPEA examination in 2014.
The CPEA is structured along similar lines to those of the CSEC and CAPE, the examinations taken by students at the end of the fifth and sixth forms, respectively. This means that there is an internally school/teacher assessed component and then a final, multiple choice examination in Mathematics, Language and Science administered and graded by the CXC. There are quality assurance mechanisms built into the administration of the CPEA to ensure that the assessment of the internal/school based components such as the portfolios and book reports is objective.
Please click here to download the CPEA Handbooks
There will soon be a more comprehensive approach to the way students are assessed at the end of their Primary Education here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. If all goes according to plans, the Common Entrance Examination may be replaced by the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA), the regional examination to assess students’ literacies at the end of the primary cycle.
A team from the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) visited St. Vincent and the Grenadines from January 14th to 16th 2013, conducted training of Education Officers, head teachers, teachers and parents in the administration of the CPEA. The CXC is the regional examination body mandated to develop and administer the CPEA.
According to the CXC, “The CPEA responds to calls from regional heads of government for a regional primary exit examination under technical cooperation”. It is an assessment of the key literacies required by all students exiting the primary school system. The CPEA focuses on a set of key literacies which are common to all primary curricula and are necessary for students to optimize achievement at the secondary level and in life. These include mathematical literacies, language literacies, civic literacies and scientific literacies.
Contrary to the fears expressed by some educators, the CPEA does not require a change in the current curriculum, but a more structured approach to instruction and assessment. The CPEA framework allows students multiple opportunities to showcase their learning and to improve their competencies and performance on various tasks.
To facilitate the smooth transition into this initiative, the Ministry of Education has decided that students of the current Grade 5 will begin using the CPEA framework so that they and their teachers may become familiar with it. These students will then move on to grade 6 and be presented for the CPEA examination in 2014.
The CPEA is structured along similar lines to those of the CSEC and CAPE, the examinations taken by students at the end of the fifth and sixth forms, respectively. This means that there is an internally school/teacher assessed component and then a final, multiple choice examination in Mathematics, Language and Science administered and graded by the CXC. There are quality assurance mechanisms built into the administration of the CPEA to ensure that the assessment of the internal/school based components such as the portfolios and book reports is objective.
Please click here to download the CPEA Handbooks