THE CARIBBEAN Examinations Council (CXC) is to introduce a new secondary level programme by 2007. The new programme - the Caribbean Certificate for Secondary Competence, is intended to meet the demand for certification of competence for secondary school students who are not at the level to sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. "The programme will be more appropriate for a large number of persons who leave school with low grades, or with no certification at all," said Cleveland Sam, public information officer for CXC. Wesley Barrett, pro-registrar for CXC told The Gleaner this week that the curriculum for the new programme has been developed in at least five core subjects: English language, mathematics, integrated science, foreign languages and social studies. He noted there will also be an elective that will be school-based and CXC will provide guidance on its assessment. Mr. Barrett explained that the programme is different for CSEC, which is based on general proficiency. The new programme, he said is based on competencies. Discussions about the new programme was expected to be high on the agenda at CXC's 36th annual meeting which ends at the Hilton Kingston Hotel today. INTEGRATION Mr. Sam said the council would also be discussing the integration of technical and vocational education and training which is competency-based in the new programme. Delegates to the council meeting came from the 16 participating territories and included representatives from ministries of education, the University of the West Indies (UWI), the University of Guyana, the CARICOM and Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Secretariats and the teaching profession. Reprinted from jamaica-gleaner.com