Secondary students preparing to sit external exams next year will have the opportunity to participate in the Ministry of Education’s, Christmas term Subject-Based Camps.

The initiative is for students who will be sitting Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Exams, as well as City and Guilds Examinations, in June next year.

The camps, which begin on Monday December 16, and run until December 19, are designed to boost students’ academic performance, particularly in Mathematics and English Language.

A ministry bulletin stated that the initiative aims to address the low pass rate, especially in Mathematics which saw only 40 percent of students passing the subject in this year’s CSEC Examinations.

Described as a tactical approach, targeting 56 high schools under the National School Learning and Intervention Plan, these face-to-face camps will provide students with an opportunity to sharpen their Math skills, build confidence and receive targeted support.

Education Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon said the initiative is one step toward improving the performance of students in the Mathematics and English CSEC Examinations. 

In the meantime, the National Mathematics team will also host a two-week CSEC math marathon from January 13-24, 2025. 

Additionally, weekly webinars will be held on Tuesdays, commencing January 28, 2025 for students registered to sit the  CXC-CSEC Mathematics Examination, and January 29, 2025 for those taking the City & Guilds stages 2 and 3 Examinations.