Jamaica Teachers' Association President Michael Stewart has called on the Caribbean Examinations Council to extend the deadline for registrations for next year's Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination papers in light of difficulties being experienced by some schools in registering online.

"Several schools are experiencing great challenges with the registration process at this time. We are asking that the time for registration be extended without any penalties," Stewart said, while bringing greetings at an awards ceremony put on by the Association of Principals and Vice-Principals in Ocho Rios yesterday.

Schools fearful

The deadline for registration is Tuesday, November 24.

The Gleaner reported Wednesday that several high school educators in western Jamaica were expressing fear that some students may not meet the deadline because of delays associated with the use of the new online registration system.

Former JTA president and principal of Albert Town High school in Trelawny, Wentworth Gabbidon, had said then his school was experiencing challenges in getting students registered for the exams.

According to Gabbidon, the process was slow and very tedious even while having three teachers working "night and day".

Stewart also applauded the Government's decision to delay the removal of subsidies to schools, saying the removal would have served only to disenfranchise many bright students who could not otherwise afford the costs covered by them.