Jamaica will receive extended examination timelines from the Caribbean Examinations Council following widespread disruption caused by Hurricane Melissa, which damaged over 600 schools when it struck as a Category Five storm in late October. Education Minister Dana Morris Dixon told senators that CXC has approved a delayed schedule for the country while discussions continue about adjustments to the Primary Exit Profile and potential reductions in student fees.
The ministry is pursuing several accommodations for exam-bound students, such as modified School-Based Assessment requirements, adjusted syllabus expectations, and options for candidates to sit for fewer subjects based on individual circumstances. National Vocational Qualification assessments originally planned for November have been pushed to early 2026, with an alternate sitting available in midyear. City and Guilds has proposed two separate cohorts for 2026 to give schools in severely affected regions additional flexibility.
The ministry is pursuing several accommodations for exam-bound students, such as modified School-Based Assessment requirements, adjusted syllabus expectations, and options for candidates to sit for fewer subjects based on individual circumstances. National Vocational Qualification assessments originally planned for November have been pushed to early 2026, with an alternate sitting available in midyear. City and Guilds has proposed two separate cohorts for 2026 to give schools in severely affected regions additional flexibility.
