Lynton Weir criticizes CXC’s discontinuation of SBA

Speaking at a special ceremony on the school’s grounds on September 12, 2026, where approximately 500 scientific calculators were donated by software company Fast Enterprises in collaboration with the Pollyanna Project, Weir made his position “abundantly clear”.

“The mere fact that SBA is going to be removed, and I want to make it abundantly clear, [Vice Principal] Mrs Dillon, that I am not happy that the SBA is going to be removed. And I’m very disappointed in Jamaica,” Weir declared, directing his remarks to Vice Principal Mrs Dillon.

The veteran educator argued that Jamaica, which holds the largest market share in CXC, could have forced the regional examining body to reverse its decision. “If it is that Jamaica pushed back and said, no, we want SBA, CXC would have no other choice than to say, okay, we’ll keep it. But here the CXC have taken the decision that we are going to remove SBA.”

Weir questioned whether the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) was behind the decision, noting that local tertiary institutions have adopted measured approaches to AI use. “Is that because of the technology, the utilisation of AI? And I am saying, you look at the University of Technology, they allow 20% AI usage. NCU (Northern Caribbean University), they allow 30% usage of AI. CXC should have put something else in place to deal with the AI situation.”

The principal predicted that the removal of SBA would have a direct impact on student performance. “What I think is going to happen is that our CXC result is going to go down. Why? Because out of SBA, students learn how to do research. And in doing their research, their knowledge base increases. Note that when we move completely [from] SBA, students will not be able to be given the opportunity how to do research. And you might see a decline in our CXC result.”

He also contends that contact time between teacher and student will be negatively impacted with the introduction of a paper three. 

“Schools like mine are going to be at a serious disadvantage. Whenever we have large examination, I have 400 students that write exams at any one time. So let us say when we have large exams like mathematics, all of my grade nine students have to stay home, when we are doing English all of my grade eights stay home… now that we are going to have a paper three we are going to have more students will stay out of the physical space. Se we need to look at those parameters as well. So when we making decision we must make decision where all of us can benefit. 

The Caribbean Examinations Council announced a major overhaul of its School-Based Assessment framework in July 2026, phasing out traditional take-home coursework for most non-practical subjects. The decision was driven by the rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence tools, which made it increasingly difficult to verify whether submitted SBA projects were genuinely a student's own work .

The proliferation of generative AI has brought the integrity of CXC’s qualification under the microscope argued the regional body. The council explained that when generative AI can produce essays and research papers in minutes, the SBA system can no longer reliably assess a student's work nor determine it submissions are original effort, assessors can no longer be certain whose work is being assessed.

Scope of the Changes

The traditional SBA will be retained only for practical subjects — Agricultural Science, Visual Arts, Music, Physical Education, Technical Drawing, and Food, Nutrition and Health — where hands-on demonstration is essential. For non-practical subjects including Mathematics, English, Caribbean History, Social Studies, and Principles of Business, students will complete Paper 032, an invigilated assessment.

Under the new model, candidates receive topics approximately one month in advance, are given additional time, and may bring reference notes into the examination room — shifting emphasis from memorisation to critical application.

Implementation Timeline

CAPE candidates transition to Paper 032 in May-June 2027. CSEC schools may choose between the old SBA or Paper 032 in 2027, with full transition mandatory by May-June 2028.

The decision followed consultations across 21 Caribbean states, with surveys showing 77% educator support for CSEC reforms and 76% for CAPE.

Despite his concerns, Weir welcomed the donation of the calculators, describing the devices as “first-class technology” and urging students to embrace them. “We are encouraging all of our students to use and to invest in calculators. And I’m very, very happy that FAST [Enterprises] and the Pollyanna Project has decided to assist all of our people by providing all of our people with calculators.”

He used the occasion to remind students of the value of education and the investment being made in them by teachers and external partners. “Students of Old Harbour High School, it is important that you recognise the importance of education. It is important that you continue to invest in education. As adults, as teachers, we are investing in you. We are investing in your education.”

Weir noted that the school would continue its early stimulation programme, with grades 8 and 9 students participating in CXC examinations, following strong performances this year. 

The donation of the scientific calculators is expected to benefit hundreds of students as the school prepares for the upcoming examination season.