From Jamaica Observer

A book chronicling the 40 years since the establishment of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) will be launched during a ceremony on December 2 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.

The book, titled A History of the Caribbean Examinations Council, 1973-2013, was written by University of the West Indies Professor Emeritus and Historian Patrick Bryan in celebration of CXC’s 40th anniversary in 2013.

The fascinating history chronicles the story of pre-independence Caribbean leaders, who fought for an examinations council that would ultimately transform the regional school system into one that addresses the specific education needs of the region head-on.

From the meeting of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth Caribbean countries in 1964, to the first meeting of the Caribbean Examinations Council in 1973, to the first examinations in 1979, readers will learn about all the obstacles the Council faced as it fought for regional and international acceptance in the midst of the continued presence of United Kingdom-based examinations in the Caribbean.

In his foreword to the book, CXC Chairman Professor E Nigel Harris notes, “the decision to commission a history of the CXC comes at an important moment when so many in the Caribbean are beginning to doubt the resilience of our people either as single nations or as a united entity. The importance of CXC is best manifest by the fact that nearly every family in the English- speaking Caribbean is impacted, whether it is one’s child, relative, neighbour or friend’s child, all are, will be or were involved in taking one or more of the CXC administered exams.”

“…This book chronicles the evolution of CXC and the twists and turns of an indigenous Caribbean institution that is intrinsically linked to the broader search for Caribbean freedom and nationhood,” writes Dr Wendy Grenade, lecturer in political science at UWI (Cave Hill Campus), in her review of the book.

“The 10 chapters of the book weave together a story that takes the reader to the early beginnings and the struggle against elitist education and external examinations that “were not designed for the Caribbean experience as they were not sufficiently sensitive to a Caribbean consciousness,” she adds.

Former prime minister of Jamaica, PJ Patterson, will be the main speaker at the launch. Other speakers include Education Minister Ronald Thwaites; Prof Harris; former CXC registrar, Dr Didacus Jules; CXC Acting Registrar Glenroy Cumberbatch; and the book’s author, Prof Bryan.

The book will be available on Amazon.com from January 2015 and in bookstores across the Caribbean.

For more on this story go to: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/New-book-chronicles-CXC-s-history–launch-set-for-Dec-2_17968882