Over 32,000 Csec Candidates Miss Exams
The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) reports that 32,403 CSEC candidates and 3,534 CAPE candidates were absent from regional exams, with rising non-submission of school-based assessments leaving many students ungraded. CXC urges parents, teachers, education officials and communities to ensure candidates attend exams and complete all required components.
The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has revealed that 32,403 candidates registered for CSEC examinations did not sit their exams, leaving them unable to receive grades for those subjects. The council also recorded 3,534 absences among CAPE candidates, and noted that absenteeism at the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence level is worrying when measured as a proportion of those registered.
Nicole Manning delivered the figures during Tuesday’s official release of the 2026 regional examination results in Anguilla. CXC surveys, Manning said, show many candidates stayed away because they felt inadequately prepared for the examination. “This is not a reason to be absent.
Just try,” Manning said, stressing that an attempt is preferable to no entry at all. Manning warned that candidates who miss a required component have no opportunity to be graded, meaning they lose months or years of study without a formal result. The council also flagged an increase in the non-submission of school-based assessments (SBAs), a required component for many subjects.
Non-submission can occur either because students do not complete assignments or because examination centres fail to forward completed work to CXC; in both cases, students risk being ungraded. For British Virgin Islands students and families, the CXC findings carry direct consequences.
Missing exams or failing to submit SBAs can delay graduation, affect access to regional and overseas scholarships, limit tertiary or vocational options and constrain entry-level employment opportunities that require certified qualifications. Local schools and examination centres are responsible for ensuring SBAs are completed, recorded and transmitted on time.
CXC is calling on parents, guardians, teachers and education officials to encourage full attendance at scheduled examinations and to ensure every required assessment component is finished and submitted. Education ministries, the council said, should investigate the causes of rising SBA non-submission and work with schools to put corrective measures in place.
Local educators and community leaders can support students by offering revision sessions, mock exams, counseling on exam anxiety and clear communication about administrative deadlines. With results publicly released, CXC’s message is clear: attempting the exam and completing required coursework are essential — not optional — steps toward a student’s future prospects.
Primary source: VINO