Introduction
Data for this edition of the Regional Education Statistical Digest is informed by seven of the nine OECS Member States[1].
Gross Intake Rate (GIR)
The general level of access to primary education in the OECS region is 99 percent. This means that there are no hindrances to pupils entering primary education regardless of age. Based on the existing population data, in the OECS, there are more males than females in Grade K than the population of males at age 5; with males contributing 118.93 to the GIR while females GIR was 94.83. In Dominica and VI, the low GIR is possibly as a result of projected population estimates as opposed to actual population estimates. In the case of Grenada, Saint Kitts Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, the GIR is higher due to the given population figures.
Net Intake Rate (NIR)
The NIR is similarly affected by the given population figures, particularly that the focus is now on the specified entrance-age of the schools. For the OECS, the NIR is 69 per cent which indicates that 30 percent of the students are over or under the age for accessing primary education.
Transition Rate (TR) to Secondary School
The OECS Transition Rate was 100 percent which indicates that the region is fulfilling its obligations under SDG 4.1 - universal secondary education. The GPI at the regional level is 1.05 percent which indicates that generally the proportion of females transitioning to secondary is higher than males. We can therefore conclude that there are more males repeating since the NIR for the males are higher.