Students with cellphones in CXC Exams results quashed

Thirty One students had their Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Examination results canceled last year, after they were caught with cell phones during their examinations.{{more}}

The students, who sat their exams in May/June 2010, were in breach of the Zero Tolerance rule of the CXC, in relation to cell phone use during examinations. The students sat the Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams.

The October 2010 issue of The Caribbean Examiner, a magazine of the CXC, said that the regulations of the Council clearly speak of a Zero Tolerance for cell phone use during any exam.

According to the article, Section 7 of the Regulations for the Conduct of the Council Examinations states that: “Candidates must not take, or have in their possession, in the examination room any unauthorized material including books, notes or paper of any kind, mobile phones and other electronic devices other than watches worn on the wrists and calculators, whenever permitted.”

Council Member of CXC and Headmistress of the St. Vincent Girls’ High School Andrea Bowman told SEARCHLIGHT that the information on the final number of students was disclosed during a meeting of the Council last year, after the magazine was published. The magazine quoted that 23 students had their exams results canceled. Bowman, however, noted that none of the students were from St. Vincent.

“And we hope it remains that way,” she stated.

Bowman said that though it is not normal procedure for students to be searched before entering the exam room, they are made aware of the regulation and its penalties.

Bowman has been a member of the Council, the CXC’s highest decision making body, since 2004. The other representative of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the Council is the Chief Education Officer.

Originally, the Council’s penalty for having a cellular phone in the exam room was the disqualification of the student’s results in all exams done in that sitting. However, the penalty was modified as the problem became ‘chronic’, and in 2008, the new penalty was introduced. Students in breach of the rules will have their entire CSEC or CAPE results canceled.

According to Bowman, not only are the student’s entire CAPE and CSEC results canceled, they cannot retake the exams for the next five years. Additionally, where three students are found breaching the rules at one centre, the entire centre becomes disqualified from examinations. Therefore, knowing the severity of the issue, why would some students still break the rules?

Bowman opined that the students have become too attached to their cellular phones.

“It’s the mindset. As if their identity now depends on the cell phone. So five years of study, getting a certificate, moving on with their education, all of these things are not as important as having and holding a cell phone. It is ridiculous as that, I think,” Bowman said.

SEARCHLIGHT also spoke with Cleveland Sam, CXC’s Assistant Registrar, Public Information and Customer Services, on Wednesday.

He said that the Council views the use of cellular phones in its examinations as a serious breach of its regulations.

“In the last four years, with the increasing availability of cell phones, the instances of cell phone use in the examination have increased. In order to combat this problem, the Council has advised invigilators and supervisors of examination centres to take a zero tolerance approach to cell phone use.

“The best advice for candidates is not to take a cell phone with them into the examination room,” Sam said.

Bowman revealed that the problem with cell phones also exists within the Girls’ High School. She stated that at the last term’s examination, 40 first form students out of 136 were caught with cell phones during exams, and had their exam paper canceled.

Bowman stressed that the school carries a zero tolerance policy for cell phones, a policy which is communicated to the students and parents often. However, there are instances when cell phones still show up at the school.

She concluded that parents play a pivotal role in helping to curb the problem, adding that their support is greatly desired.

“I just wish we could get the support from the parents and guardians. That’s where I think most of the problems are coming from,” Bowman said, adding that parents undermine the school and its rules.

The Zero tolerance rule for cell phone use at the GHS, Bowman mentioned, prepares the students to adapt to the CXC regulations, but moreso prevents cheating in classrooms, confusion and lack of focus.

The article in The Caribbean Examiner stated that the breaches of the 31 students included candidates’ phones ringing during the examination, phones vibrating during the examination, texting during the examinations, and phones being concealed in pockets.