A whistleblower revealed the shocking leak just moments before students were scheduled to sit the exam
by Marco Lopez
BELIZE CITY, Thurs. May 18, 2023
A short statement from the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) yesterday confirmed concerns that the Math II examination paper had been leaked. This problem-solving style paper is considered one of the most difficult among students – with preparation to sit it starting as early as the first year of high school. The exam was written across the Caribbean yesterday, May 17, and shortly after, CXC issued its statement.
“This matter is of great concern to the organization; investigations have commenced, and a definitive statement will be made once the investigation is completed. In the meantime, candidates can rest assured that this matter is being treated with the highest urgency,” the release states.
The council, which will mark fifty years of its existence this year, chose not to mention the countries involved in the leak. While there are no confirmed reports, all indications point to Guyana and Jamaica as the two CARICOM nations where the leaks took place.
The exam was posted by a fake profile on a sales page in Guyana. Its caption stated, “Breaking News, CXC math paper 2 was leaked this morning.” The post included 23 photos – which featured various pages of exam content – but not the entire exam.
One source, a teacher from Jamaica who chose to remain anonymous, said that he and his colleagues received the exam paper pre-dawn. He referred to the incident as highly irregular and a breach of CXC protocol. Reports are that some students from the institution (at which the source serves as a teacher) received the math paper from Guyana via a WhatsApp message as early as 7:00 a.m., just hours before the start of the exam.
As mentioned, this is one of the most anticipated CXC examinations of the year, and upon learning of the leak, many students and parents took to social media to air their discontent.
One parent said, “My child will be very upset since he is extremely exhausted from all the studies and lessons.” She added, “Very unfair to the children who did their honest and best.”
Unconfirmed reports are that the exam was also available in Antigua before students took the exam. There is no indication that the leak made its way to Belize. CXC’s investigation into the leak continues.