Dominica’s Chief Registrar, Ms. Magalie Celestine, has commended the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) for introducing the Caribbean Targeted Education Certificate (CTEC), describing the initiative as a promising new approach to addressing the longstanding challenge of mathematics underperformance.
Speaking at the presentation of CSEC/CXC assessment results on August 31 2026, at the Dominica Public Service Building, Celestine noted that
many Dominican students have repeatedly attempted CSEC Mathematics without achieving a passing grade, with some private candidates sitting the subject three or four times. She said the traditional system often left students who had spent years in secondary school without formal recognition of the mathematical competencies they had acquired.
According to Celestine, CTEC, which was piloted during the May–June 2026 examinations, maintains the existing CXC syllabus and rigorous
standards but divides the subject into manageable modules that candidates can master, complete and have certified individually.
She said the approach ensures that students do not leave the education system empty-handed when circumstances prevent them from completing an entire subject, while also providing an opportunity to return later and continue their studies. In Dominica, 50 candidates from
the Adult Education Division and the Dominica Technical College (BTC) were registered for the mathematics pilot, with 35-30 females and five
males ultimately sitting the examination.
The pilot produced what Celestine described as an impressive outcome, with 33 of the 35 candidates, or 94.3 percent, earning acceptable
grades ranging from A to D in CTEC Mathematics Module 1. CXC has also committed to covering the cost of Modules 2 and 3 for those 33
successful candidates, provided they continue to achieve acceptable grades. However, Celestine stressed that completing one module does
not constitute a full subject qualification, as candidates must successfully complete all modules to earn the full credential.
She added that the competencies assessed in Module 1 are already incorporated into CSEC Mathematics, and said the 2026 pilot demonstrates that a modular assessment model can build confidence, recognize learning and provide students with a realistic pathway toward completing their education.
