Shortage of tables delays CSEC exams

The tables did not add up for students sitting the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) mathematics exam at the Gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex yesterday morning.

A shortage of tables resulted in a delay to the scheduled 9 o’clock start, which had to be pushed pack to 11 a.m. after additional tables were sourced from the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI).

This also saw a later start for the English B CSEC test which was slated for 1 p.m., as around 1:35 p.m.
a number of students were seen waiting to enter the exam room.

Deputy Chief Education Officer Glyne Price told the MIDWEEK NATION the delay was due to a lack of communication on the delivery of the tables.

“We had a late notice in terms of the shortage of tables, so we made some arrangement to have some tables delivered and, obviously, it took some time because of the traffic. By then we had the candidates settled and everybody was comfortable but we started a bit late,” he explained.

Student Ethan Parris, who sat the maths exam, said they were first notified of the shortage upon entering the room at 8:30 a.m., and had to wait until 11 o’clock before they could begin.

“They had 256 chairs and then about 100 and something tables. Then some of the tables were broken so they had to wait to get tables from SJPI and bring them down here. The whole delay was nearly two hours . . . .

“An hour went by and no tables, a half-hour went by and no tables, then a little bit after that they started setting up the tables.”

Another student, who asked not to be identified, said some of the broken tables created a noisy environment.

“The tables would keep dropping down literally mid-exam. One was propped up with two screws and the other had a sliding place with a piece of board, so everybody’s table kept folding and everyone’s stuff kept dropping and it was just noisy,” he added.

Some of the sitters for the English B exam spoke of waiting more than two hours.

“They told us that the first exam started late because of a mix-up with the tables and that’s why ours is late. They told us 1:45 but it’s not looking likely now,” Zolah-Ski Blackman said.

Isaiah Marshall said he had been up early since 5 a.m. and was in no condition to do an exam.

Dedreida Applewhite, whose son sat the maths test, expressed her displeasure after being at the Gymnasium since 7 a.m. in anticipation of a 9 o’clock start.

“They got to do better. We’ve been waiting whole day. We saw the tables get here after 10. This is far too long to wait for an exam and some of the children were already anxious,” she said.

President of the Barbados Union of Teachers, Rudy Lovell, called for a thorough investigation, expressing grave concern over the “unacceptable” delay.

“Such disruptions place students, who have spent months preparing for this critical examination, at an unnecessary disadvantage. These candidates face heightened stress, compromised focus and a potential impact on their overall performance, factors that could have long-term consequences for their academic and professional futures.

“Those responsible must be held accountable to ensure that this does not happen again. We urge the Ministry of Education and relevant stakeholders to take swift action to address this matter as our students deserve better,” he said.