The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) in collaboration with the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF), on Friday May 16th launched “The New Generation of CAPE Subjects”. The launch took place at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) where the new subjects were officially included on the list of programmes being offered by the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) body.
Speaking at the mid-morning launch Rawle Gibbons, CXC resource person, emphatically stated that “the syllabus recognises that there are other forms of intelligence.”We have failed to provide for the majority of our people and these new syllabuses for Agricultural Science, Entrepreneurship, Physical Education and Sport, Performing Arts and Tourism recognise these failures. We want to create individuals who are connected to their environment and who can take full responsibility for themselves.”
Attendees at Friday’s launch included representatives from the Ministry of Education, Human Resource Development and Labour, teachers and students from the St. Joseph’s Convent, Castries Comprehensive Secondary School, Leon Hess Comprehensive, faculty of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and University of the West Indies as well as personnel from the office of the Registrar, CXC.
The gathering was treated to a showcase of live art by John Phulchere and Gilland Avril, a dance performance by students of the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School as well as musical performances from Manmay Lakay. The St. Lucia National Archives was instrumental in telling the story of performing arts through the years in the form of a visual exhibition.
Dean of the Division of Arts, Science and General Studies, Mrs. Jane King Hippolyte in her address to the gathering said that “despite the size or maybe due to its small size, Saint Lucian artists have excelled and continue to perform creditably and in some cases even live off of their creativity in the performing arts”. According to Mrs. Hippolyte, the inclusion of the areas of study, supports “entrepreneurship and is highly encouraged through the new generation of CAPE subjects” being offered.