Students taking the CAPE Communications Studies examination tomorrow, Friday, June 23, are advised to prepare to write it as scheduled.
Chief Education Officer, Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, and Minister of Home Affairs, Wilfred Abrahams, gave students the assurance that Government was doing all in its power to ensure they were able to write the examination tomorrow without being disadvantaged, as Tropical Storm Bret continues to affect the island.
“I encourage all students scheduled to write the Communication Studies examination tomorrow, to make the necessary preparations to write the examination tomorrow.
“You will be updated, but know the Ministry of Education is doing its utmost best to ensure that you can take that Communication Studies exam,” she said.
Dr. Archer-Bradshaw outlined that the Ministry had a number of plans in place, but would be guided by the science coming from the Barbados Meteorological Services, to avoid placing any student in danger.
Those plans, she said, included ensuring that there was proper security at the schools where the exams were being held, since they may still be housing persons sheltering, following the passage of the system.
However, she noted that if they were unable to administer the CAPE examination tomorrow, there was a section in the Caribbean Examinations Council legislation which spoke to hardship and may have to be enacted.
Meanwhile, Minister Abrahams noted that emergency services were already on standby to move into action once the threats posed by the system had passed.
That, he said, would include the cutting up and removal of fallen trees, the Barbados Light and Power crews removing fallen poles, and members of The Barbados Police Service and other emergency officials carrying out the necessary checks to ensure it was safe.
He added that they also communicated with the Transport Board and drivers were placed on notice to move at short notice, to ensure that the students could get to their exam.
“Every effort is being made to give those students a chance to get to that exam and take it, but we have to be certain that in doing so, there is no risk to them, or others, occasioned by that transport,” he said.