This was revealed on Friday by Glenroy Cumberbatch, CXC's Pro-Registrar for the Western Zone.

Speaking on Friday during the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools' Annual CXC awards, Cumberbatch said in 1979, when the first batch of students sat the CSEC, five subjects were offered to some 30,000 students. Examinations were offered in English, geography, history, mathematics and integrated science as a pilot.

Today, the examining body offers some 33 subjects to 143,000 students.

Cumberbatch said none of these milestones could have been achieved without the help of teachers. CXC, he said, depends heavily on teachers who grade the papers.

"So, in August 2009, we will be improving the fees, travel and allowances for our teachers," Cumberbatch told the gathering at St George's College.

Making them comfortable

He added: "We will ensure that they are comfortable. We know we won't be able to pay them for everything, but we will strive to do our best."

According to CXC's website, it will, this year, honour the Class of '79', the people who made the first examination administration happen. These include staff of the council at the time, markers, members of the five subject panels and members of the Final Awards Committee.