CXC Celebrates 50 Years of Service to the Caribbean In Conversation With Pioneers

On Monday, 27 March 2023, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC®) hosted ‘CXC@50: The Pioneers’ Viewpoint’ at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica.

The event, moderated by Emmy Award-winning Journalist and CEO, Nationwide News Network, Cliff Hughes featured Sir Roy Augier, Past Chairman, CXC®, Mrs Irene Walter, Past Registrar and ProRegistrar, CXC® and Professor Neville Ying, Past CXC® Council member and Past Chairman of the Overseas Examinations Commission (Jamaica).

As CXC® continues to host a series of events during the year of its 50th anniversary, the organisation has invited regional and international partners to join in celebrating its golden jubilee.

Sharing in the occasion were Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Chairman, CXC® and Dr Wayne Wesley, Registrar and CEO, CXC®. The event also featured remarks from Mrs Maureen Dwyer, Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Youth, Jamaica.

The Most Honourable Professor Sir Kenneth Hall, Former Governor-General of Jamaica and Former Chairman, CXC® was also delighted to share in recognising the pioneers, including Sir Roy, who once taught him Caribbean History.

Highlighting the significance of the event, Sir Hilary remarked, “we are perfectly clear on the historical past. We now have to focus on leading the institution into an even more glorious future, and we have all the skills to do that.” During the event, invited guests were treated to a ‘guided tour’ of the historical past by the storytellers who helped to shape what has become a fifty-year Caribbean success story.

In reflecting on the extraordinary nature of event, Dr Wesley, Registrar and CEO, CXC®, described it as “the Council’s celebration of thanksgiving – honouring the past, recognising the present and envisioning the future.” Professor Ying, who was invited by Mrs Irene Walter in 1975 to coordinate the first item writing workshop, explained how he had to juggle multiple roles in those early years. “I had to multi-task as technical representative for CXC® while also serving as Jamaica’s representative as well as one of the three persons charged with selecting the first computer system to be used by CXC®,” recalled Ying.

Mrs Walter, in making her contribution to the conversation, chronicled her experiences of visiting each school across Jamaica to garner support for the newly developed examinations body. Sir Roy, followed with memories of his personal journey from having a desire to study Caribbean History and later helping to shape Caribbean History through his work with CXC®.

Guests representing different institutions of the education industry including, the Overseas Examinations Commission, the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), and the Association of Principals and Vice Principals, listened keenly to the history lesson and were delighted to share in recognising the contributions of the visionary pioneers.

The 50th anniversary celebrations will continue this month with a beach-clean up coordinated by CXC® staff in Jamaica and a competition for stakeholders.