Page 49 - 2019 CXC Annual Report
P. 49

World Class Exams – Syllabus Development






            Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE )
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            The Committee recommended that the Panel revise all aspects   The committee recommended a change in the layout to have the
            of the Syllabus including changing the layout of the syllabus   Content adjacent to the Specific Objectives for easier reference.
            and refining the Rationale, Aims and the General Objectives   They also recommended that the title for Unit 1 Module 3 be
            to ensure they reflected construct including the Twenty-first   changed to Business Finance and Financial Decision Making
            Century skills and the philosophical, political, psychological   to better support the focus of the Unit. They also revisited and
            underpinning which support the imperatives of the Council   reorganised the Specific Objectives and Content to ensure
            as well as the attributes of the Ideal Caribbean Person, and   there was enhanced compliance with the criteria for selecting
            UNESCO Pillars of Learning. The Rationale was adjusted   and organising Content, as well as to more effectively delineate
            to include the factors that influence and drive business   its scope. The committee also recommended that the list of
            decisions, sustainable business practices, recommended   resources in the syllabus be updated to ensure currency and to
            approaches to teaching the syllabus and attributes of the Ideal   include relevant electronic sources.
            Caribbean Person which focused on adopting appropriate and
            acceptable attitudes, values and ethical practices relating to   Additionally, they recommended the revision of the Suggested
            business activities.  The Aims were adjusted (2,5,7,9,10) and   Teaching  and  Learning  Activities  to  ensure  that they  were
            new Aims (4,6,8) constructed to better reflect the focus of the   reflecting an authentic, student-centred focus, integration of
            Aim and the direction of the syllabus. These were:  technology and were suitable for enhancing the development
                                                                and application of Twenty-first Century Skills.
               develop critical thinking skills that will provide
               opportunities for acquisition of prerequisite knowledge   The Committee recommended the review of the Assessment
               and skills necessary to pursue further studies and career      Component of the syllabus to include a focus on collaboration,
               development;                                     and to adjust the requirements of the Paper 032, the alternative
                                                                to the SBA for both Units to ensure it is assessing similar
               develop effective communication  skills that support   skills to those assessed in the SBA. They also recommended
               organisational success; and,                     refining the descriptors and adjusting the assigned marks for
                                                                components of the SBA, to enhance clarity of the requirements,
               develop an appreciation of the value of utilising emerging   and reliability of scoring.
               technologies in managing organisations.
                                                                The draft syllabus will be submitted to the April 2020 meeting
            The General Objectives were refined and new ones    of  SUBSEC requesting  approval  to complete  the revision  of
            constructed to better support the scope of the syllabus. The   the syllabus. If the request is approved, a Panel meeting will
            Specific Objectives were revised to ensure the appropriate   be convened in June 2020 to complete the revision  of the
            cognitive demand and to ensure that the knowledge, attitudes   syllabus. The final draft of the syllabus along with the Specimen
            and competencies that students are required to develop were   Examination Papers, Keys and Mark Schemes will be submitted
            sufficiently covered.                               to SUBSEC in October 2020, for approval. If approval is
                                                                granted, the syllabus and copies of the specimen examination
                                                                papers, keys and mark schemes will be distributed to schools in
                                                                September 2021, for first examination in May–June 2022.



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