Examination Development for Educational Reform: Bahamas New Secondary Examination (BGCSE)

The Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) is the most recent initiative on the part of Bahamian educational policymakers to ensure the utilization of a means of assessment which is comprehensive and fair and generally does not discriminate against sections of the student population.Introduced in 1993, in nature and structure the BGCSE is designed to recognize positive achievement, taking into account varying and different abilities, rather than relative levels of failure.This paper outlines the evolution of the BGCSE and draws attention to its characteristics which set it apart from all previous instruments and facilitate the equalization of educational opportunity.