BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — The Barbados-based Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) says it will provide students across the region with e-certificates following a successful trial period.
CXC, which was established in 1972 under agreement by participating Caribbean Community (CARICOM) governments, said while it would still be offering the traditional paper-based certificate, students who have registered unique and valid email addresses will now have the option to acquire their official certification through Blockcerts or blockchain based credentials, as a free downloadable e-Certificate in a digital format.
CXC said the e-certificates would be immediately available to students on their electronic devices once the certificate is ready and available.
The regional institution started the first regional blockchain-based credential project last October, by issuing e-Certificates to a select group of 24,000 students from Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago who sat the 2018 May/June examinations.
First multi-national implementation
“Serving 19 countries, this is the first … multi-national implementation of digital credentials designed specifically to maximize cross-border employability and transferability of skills in the region,” said CXC Registrar and chief executive officer, Glenroy Cumberbatch.
Digital certificates also helps to prevent loss of official records. The blockchain, combined with strong cryptography, provides a new security infrastructure that guarantees the authenticity of these records and enables convenient verification.”
CXC e-Certificates will be offered for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exam, Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate and the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence.
Cumberbatch said e-certificates add value to students and to the recipients of the e-certificates:
CXC partnered with the UK-based Learning Machine in June 2018 to collaborate and develop this open source standard for blockchain based records for Caribbean students.
Among group of elite institutions
“CXC is among an elite group of institutions that are leading the charge globally for the issuance of secure, portable, and shareable digital credentials. CXC is now building upon last fall’s successful launch of Blockcerts for issuance of official student records,” said Learning Machine Senior Vice President of Global Services, Kausar N. Samli.
“From this March, the next batch of students will be receiving Blockcerts that will empower them with individual ownership of their official records in a digital format that is portable and easily shareable,” Samli added.
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