The subjects are Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Science – Double Award, Green Engineering as well as Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Technology.

CXC adds that schools across the region can still request the suspended subjects, but at an additional cost.

The Saint Lucia Secondary Schools’ Principal Association, in a statement, expressed their concern at CXC’s decision.

Saint Lucia has recently taken strides to include more TVET programmes into the mainstream education sector, as four secondary schools will be completely transformed into TVET institutions.

“This decision is especially disconcerting, considering that in St Lucia we are preparing to transform four secondary schools into TVET Centres in time for the next academic year. This move will definitely limit the scope of those TVET Centres as well as the options available to the students,” the Principals’ Association said.

The Association adds that low enrolment is not a valid excuse to suspend the subjects at the CSEC and CAPE levels, noting that the organisation has a societal responsibility to the Caribbean.

“It cannot suffice that under-subscription in those areas is the main reason for the discontinuation. As a regional body CXC has a moral and societal obligation to the region which it serves to ensure that it provides certification in a wide range of areas which contribute to the improvement of societies and their human resource capacity.”

Currently, the government of Saint Lucia covers CSEC Maths and English for secondary school students.

Other subjects remain parents’ responsibility to pay.