CSEC mix-up irks aspiring nurse

Tameka Shields' plan to become a nurse has hit a snag after she was not registered for the English Language CESC exam. Shields planned to get enrolled in nursing school this year, but that is not possible without a pass in the subject area.

"All the places that I call, I have to have three CXC and I only have one at the moment. I was planning to do another CXC while I was doing the nursing because I would have already done the English," said Shields.

Shields, who is a bartender, said the low pay is not enough to care for her and her child. She is blaming Dunoon Park Technical High, where she was enrolled for the class, for the mishap.

"How you have 20 persons coming to class and you only submit for 19? Everybody pays the same account, yet they left me out, which I don't understand," she said. "They haven't given me a reason. The last time I got to them they only told me that they are sorry for the inconvenience." She said she paid for the subject on November 11, 2019.

"I went in with my receipt and showed it to the secretary and she told me I was good and I went to class. I have been going to class. I even paid for my January classes after that and everything was fine," said Shields. "On Thursday (July 9) I went in for my timetable only to find out I was not submitted for CXC and my exam would be on the following Monday."

But vice-principal at Dunoon Park, Bridgett Pancho, told THE STAR that it was a misunderstanding on Shields' part why her information was not submitted for the exam

"She paid for the subject but she did not take in the receipt. She brought it in on the day of the exam so because we didn't get it, her name was not on the list," she said.

Stressed

Shields say she is stressed at the setback and is upset that she has to start classes once again this September. She also said her many attempts to be reimbursed have been futile.

"I call about my money last Monday they told me call back on Thursday. I did and then they are going to tell me they don't see a cheque with my name on it. Is just bare runaround. All now I haven't heard from them about my money," Shields said.

Pancho informed THE STAR that there were come complications to get the cheque signed but it is ready for pick up.

"She called her teacher on Tuesday and I told the teacher to tell her to call me back to see if the cheque was filed. The cheque was prepared but there was only one signatory on the compound. But the cheque is ready," she said.