| Government has been granted a US$20,000 discount on the amount payable to the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) for shifting the dates that were set for the administering of Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination (CAPE) subjects to facilitate the May 11, 2015 polls.This disclosure was yesterday made by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon,Cheap Jerseys From China Online, who disclosed that Government had sought a review of the cost from CXC after which a decision was made by the regional examining body to slash US$20,000 off of the original cost.The previous Government had incurred the cost but had not made arrangements for the payment. According to Harmon the issue was brought to the attention of Cabinet by Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine. The original sum payable was US$385,000 or G$77 million. With the reduction offered by CXC, Government is expected to pay US$365,000 or G$73 million. “There is a commitment by Government to pay that sum of money because of its importance to the youths and children of this country,” said Harmon as he announced Government’s decision to pay off the cost incurred.Soon after taking up his ministerial portfolio, Minister Roopnaraine in an invited comment told this publication that the cost for shifting the examination was “…closer to US$400, 000,NFL Jerseys Sale, — $80 million in local currency.”He had disclosed then that the sum was being tentatively approved but there was need for it to first be approved at the level of Cabinet before any payment can be made to CXC.Former Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand,Chicago White Sox Jerseys, in defending the move by former President Donald Ramotar, to announce May 11 as polling day, thus causing the already set examination dates to be changed for Guyanese candidates, said that the (former) President was entitled to name that date for the elections.She had further conveyed that the (former) President’s naming of the date was influenced by the readiness of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to host the elections.“As far as I understand, all the dates that were given by GECOM that would be possible elections dates given that they themselves are bound by certain timelines…all the dates that they submitted were in the CXC period,” she said. “It was inevitable that we would have faced this slight hurdle which we have crossed effectively.”Manickchand said then too that her Ministry was cognizant of the general concerns regarding the examinations timetabled for the same date with the Elections.She said that because her Ministry was always keen to ensure that examinations are conducted in a smooth and effective manner,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, consultations were had with CXC and other stakeholders about what might be best for the candidates.Moreover, several possible options, she said, were discussed and considered. And according to her too,Josh Hart College Jersey, “at all times, during the discussions and deliberations, the Ministry’s paramount consideration was in the best interest of the candidates.”Manickchand however,Josh Hart Villanova Jersey, was consistently reluctant to disclose to this publication the cost incurred to shift the examination. |
