LEVELS OF EDUCATION
The structure of OECS education system is illustrated in the Figure 1 It presents the levels of education - early childhood, primary, secondary, post- secondary and tertiary.
Compulsory Education refers to the twelve-year span of legally mandated school attendance, which in most member States ranges from ages five to sixteen years.
Students generally spend six to seven years in the primary grades. This may be preceded by one to three years at the early childhood level.
Early Childhood/pre-primary refers to the care of young children prior to the commencement of compulsory education which, for most, ranges from birth to five years of age.
Primary is the first phase of compulsory education which begins at five years and spans approximately seven years. At the end of the primary school cycle (Grade 6) students take a national examination (Common Entrance, Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment, National Assessment, Test of Standards) which is used for placement at secondary schools. The examination is also used for monitoring and identifying students who may-be at-risk of achieving educational outcomes.
Special Education Centres refer to schools designed to cater to special needs students who are challenged at both the primary and secondary levels. The challenges may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental, or some combination of these. It must be noted that Special needs programmes are provided in one of three ways: in individualised special needs schools; in special needs units attached to mainstream primary schools; or students are included into mainstream classrooms with varying levels of support.
Secondary refers to the second phase of the compulsory education which spans a five-year period. At the third form level, students sit the CCSLC examination. By the end of the secondary cycle (Form 5 or Grade 12) students sit the regional examination – Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ). This is required for enrolment in tertiary institutions and most job placement. Some graduates may join the workforce while others may decide to continue their education at a post-secondary institution for a period of one to two years, while others may continue their education at the university level.
Tertiary education in the OECS is provided by three categories of institutions: national community colleges, the University of the West Indies (UWI), and foreign/off-shore institutions.