TCI News
TCI: Last year for GSAT examinations and its replacement to shift the way students are tested
#Providenciales, April 15, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – When sixth grade students across the country sit the 2019 GSAT examinations this year, that will be the end of an era as the exam for this jurisdiction will become history and the new Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment or CPEA will be established as its replacement.
“This will be the last year,” said Edgar Howell, who is the Director at the Ministry of Education, who added, “…but there are still some policy decisions to be taken around how students will transition from primary into secondary school.”
That qualifying policy decision, once determined, will undoubtedly grab national headlines and that’s because the Grade Six Achievement Test or GSAT is of paramount priority for hundreds of students, their parents and their teachers when it comes to transitioning to high school. It is often a dogged competition as students are under heavy pressure, sometimes considered overly pressured to try to top the results chart.
The high stakes examination often leads to full scholarships to the best schools but more negatively, it often leads to arguments, accusations even students stressed to the point of passing out.
Director of the Minister of Education, Edgar Howell in February explained the changes as, “It is really going to be about project-based learning, students will develop portfolios, students would learn how to set an assessment paper and grade the assessment paper themselves; they would develop responsibility really for their own learning and help to direct that process.”
Mr. Howell said the Ministry is expected to see an enriched learning environment within the primary schools of the Turks and Caicos Islands; he said it will be transformative.
“It will transform what we currently know as a primary school experience and while we will focus on grades three to grade six, we expect the methodology to be used throughout the school system. That is from Infant 1 right up to grade six.”
And this new external examination for our sixth-grade students will look at their overall proficiency as a student; no longer an emphasis on whether children can regurgitate a standard curriculum.
“The Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment, CPEA, does not necessarily depend on having a grade six specific curriculum in place because the assessment is based around certain literacies that all children who are in a primary school system whether they are in Turks and Caicos or in Barbados or Cayman Islands ought to have by the time they are leaving grade six.”
Work on this transition and transformation is ongoing with the aim of subjects being ready for the new academic year in September 2019; already core subjects like Mathematics, English Language where the guidelines are developed and Social Studies and Science, are progressing.
Mr. Howell added, “Students will continue to transition into high school. We are not using CPEA to determine whether a child has passed or failed that is not going to be the way that we look at it in terms of a 50 percent or a 75 percent. Students would have mastered certain skills and based on the mastery of those skills they will transition into high school.”
In 2018, 487 students were registered for the GSAT examinations; the Ministry reported that 75.56 percent of the students sitting the tests passed into high school, which means 119 students were unsuccessful and were likely left behind.
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PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: — Beaches Turks & Caicos continues to lead the way in sustainability by cultivating a
culture of environmental stewardship across the Turks and Caicos Islands. Through the introduction of biodegradable alternatives, agricultural education and community partnerships, the resort is setting a new standard for eco-conscious hospitality. As part of its ongoing sustainability mission, the resort has replaced single-use plastics and certain chemicals with compostable, biodegradable products derived from natural sources, to reduce pollution and minimize the resort’s carbon footprint.
“At Beaches Turks & Caicos, sustainability is woven into every part of the guest experience,” said Managing Director, James McAnally. “From the products we use to the relationships we nurture, our goal is to make responsible environmental choices that benefit our guests, team members and the wider Turks and Caicos community.”
The resort also practices on-site composting, recycling fruit and vegetable waste from its kitchens to enrich soil and sustain its lush
landscaping. This closed-loop system reduces waste and promotes biodiversity across the property.
Beyond the resort, Beaches collaborates with local partners including schools, government agencies and NGOs to extend green education into the wider community. Through the Sandals Foundation, the resort supports projects such as the installation of water filtration systems, tree-planting activities and biodegradable workshops. Schools like Enid Capron Primary have expanded their farming projects and integrated agricultural science into their curriculum thanks to this partnership. Beaches also leads regular coastal cleanups and reforestation drives which inspires residents and students to play an active role in protecting their environment. “The Earth Guardian volunteers take pride in giving back to our schools and the communities we serve,” noted Public Relations Manager, Orville Morgan. “These initiatives create a sense of shared responsibility that strengthens both our communities and our natural resources.”
With its commitment to biodegradable innovation, sustainable education and environmental action, Beaches Turks & Caicos continues to set the benchmark for biodiversity and sustainability in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Photo Captions
1st insert: Beaches Turks and Caicos and the Sandals Foundation celebrate with students at the Enid Capron Primary School in a Reading Road Trip experience where guests and students get to experience a cultural melting pot of activity.
2nd insert: Beaches Turks and Caicos resort Simone Woodfine from the Bar Department prepares to plant a tree at one of our schools to celebrate the mission of providing a healthier environment for the Turks and Caicos Islands
TCI News
Turks and Caicos Corporate Community Join Beaches Resort to Raise Funds for Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa Relief
Turks and Caicos Islands, December 17, 2025 – Corporate partners in and around Providenciales recently joined Beaches Turks and
Caicos Resort raising over US $54,000 to support Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa Relief effort. The fundraising dinner, aptly titled, ‘One Caribbean, One Family, One Love’ saw over eighteen companies gather on Friday, December 12 to support the recovery of families and the rebuilding of communities affected by the category 5 storm.
“When our Caribbean family calls, we will respond with love,” said Deryk Meany, General Manager of the Beaches Turks and Caicos resort. “Today it is Jamaica that is affected, but tomorrow, it could be the Turks and Caicos or another neighbouring island. We are committed to serving our brothers and sisters and are deeply grateful to everyone who have donated to the cause.”
Since the passage of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica on October 28, the Sandals Foundation has been working around the clock with local
agencies and international partners to provide shelter essentials, food, and clean water, restore schools, and provide medical support to hospitals. Funds raised at the recent benefit dinner will help bolster the next phase of the philanthropic organisation’s support to rebuild schools and livelihoods in affected communities.
“As we continue to provide essential first-relief support, we have already begun our long-term recovery response,” says Patrice Gilpin, Public Relations Manager at Sandals Foundation. “Many schools, which are the cornerstone of stability, learning, and emotional support for our young ones, require urgent attention. This donation will go a far way in restoring a sense of normalcy in the lives of our youngest and most vulnerable.”
The One Caribbean, One Family, One Love fundraising dinner featured, amongst other things a silent auction of Sandals and Beaches
Resort stays, airline tickets, spa services, catamaran cruise, and private chef dinner. The night’s four course meal was also spearheaded by the TCI’s 2025 Taste of the Caribbean silver medalist culinary team- all of whom volunteered for the event.
Managing Director of the Northern Caribbean and Curaçao, James McAnally expressed delight at the outcome noting, “The success of this event is indicative of the power of partnerships to effect real change. We are grateful to the TCI business community, resort guests and our resort team for coming together and making this moment count.”
Photo Captions
1st insert: Sandals Foundation Public Relations Manager Patrice Gilpin (centre) accepts the cheque from Beaches Turks and Caicos resort General Manager Deryk Meany (left) and Managing Director of the Northern Caribbean and Curacao James McAnally
2nd insert: Members of the Beaches Turks and Caicos resort’s entertainment team were on hand to provide scintillating performances at the event
3rd insert: Beaches Turks and Caicos resort General Manager Deryk Meany (5th left) poses for the cameras with representatives of the Graceway Communities as he personally thanked those who were in attendance
