‘I don’t know if things will get better’ - Student explains decision to do CSEC this year

Antashia Henningham is one of the many students who, despite the odds, is determined to sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) offered by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC).

The examinations start next week, but 6,000 CSEC and 300 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination students have opted to defer sitting their examinations until January or June 2022.

Henningham, a fifth-form student at a high school in the Corporate Area, said that she has had many challenges since schools transitioned online due to the COVID-19 pandemic last March. Henningham said that she was not able to attend most of her classes because of the cost associated with logging on to the Internet. She told THE STAR that during the September to December term last year, she was only able to attend about 10 virtual classes, and only four since January.

"It was really difficult and stressful, especially when I had to my SBA [School Based Assessment] and needed to get help from my teachers," Henningham said.

The youngster said that she had to walk from her house in rural St Andrew to her grandmother's place located some 30 minutes away, in order to access the Internet. There she downloaded notes and recordings from classes that were posted on the online platform.

Defer sitting exams

As the date for her examination draws closer, Henningham said that she has been reviewing her notes and doing practice past papers. An aspiring soldier, she says she didn't want to defer sitting exams because she believes she can do well despite the challenges.

"I don't know if things will get better, so might as well I do it now. Plus, I want to achieve what I need to achieve as soon as possible," Henningham.

Education Minister Fayval Williams yesterday expressed confidence that the children who have deferred will do well.

"Having taken the decision to go ahead with the exam, I believe that they will be giving it their best," she said at yesterday's post-Cabinet press briefing. "It has been difficult for everyone and we want to wish all our students all the best as they continue to prepare in these last days leading up to the exams."

Caneil Nelson, Henningham's mother, is hoping for the best as well.

"Mi excited enuh, although it ruff me want har fi duh well. Mi believe she can do it, but it's really up to her and if she say she can, then she can," said Nelson.