Caribbean Education Crisis: A Foundational Learning Crisis

Data Concerns: A Lack of Comparability

When students across the Caribbean received their Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) results last summer, a concerning picture emerged: only 4.9 percent of students—close to 200,000 students for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate exams—passed five or more subjects, including Mathematics and English.

Particularly alarming is the low success rate in Mathematics, with just 36 percent of students passing that subject in 2024.

Parents and educators are expressing frustration over low pass rates.

“The cumulative effects of years of poor educational outcomes are deeply concerning, especially given the well-established links between education and negative societal impacts such as crime,” said Paula-Anne Moore, spokesperson for the Group of Concerned Parents in Barbados and the Caribbean Coalition for Exam Redress, as reported by Barbados Today.

This raises important questions about the root causes of the educational challenges in the Caribbean and what steps can be taken to address them.

A Foundational Learning Crisis

The data point to a more significant, systemic problem: a Caribbean foundational learning crisis. Foundational learning involves basic literacy, numeracy, and transferable skills, the building blocks for a learning life.

In many Caribbean countries, students leave primary school without mastering these skills, which hampers their ability to succeed in secondary education and beyond.

The implications of this crisis are far-reaching. Without a strong foundation in basic skills, students cannot acquire higher-order competencies required for more complex critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity—skills essential in today’s knowledge-based economy.

This directly impacts economic growth and development, as a poorly educated workforce is less productive, less innovative, and less able to compete in a globalized world.

Inequality in Access to Quality Education

Adding to the challenge is the persistent inequality in access to quality education. Many students attend schools that are under-resourced and face challenges such as overcrowding, underqualified or demotivated teachers, and often significant levels of violence.

In Guyana, the shortage of available spaces forced secondary students to be accommodated in primary schools—referred to as primary top departments—significantly hindering the learning experience.

This inequality perpetuates cycles of poverty and limits social mobility. Those who attend elite schools are more likely to perform well in national exams, gain access to tertiary education, and secure well-paying jobs. In contrast, the majority struggle to pass exams, limiting their opportunities for advancement.

What Needs to Be Done?

Governments across the Caribbean are already prioritizing education and implementing reforms to improve access, enhance teaching quality, and upgrade school infrastructure.

However, achieving better outcomes will require a paradigm shift in Caribbean education systems, including enhanced alignment with the global agenda for transforming education. Efforts should be directed toward addressing inequality and ensuring a minimum level of quality for all students; a stronger emphasis on foundational learning; increasing resilience and adaptability of education systems; strengthening digital education, including improving data collection and education management information systems and finding solutions to retain talent within the region.

Partnerships are also critical, and regional entities such as the Caribbean Community and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States Commission have a decisive role to play.

The World Bank is actively supporting these efforts, gathering evidence to build consensus on the strengths and challenges of Caribbean education systems and providing evidence-based recommendations for reform.

For example, Education Public Expenditure Reviews completed in Jamaica and Belize and ongoing in Barbados provide a comprehensive analysis of the efficiency and equity of education spending, benchmarking the country’s performance against regional and global standards.

The Public Expenditure Review in Jamaica laid the analytical groundwork for the Jamaica Education Project, launched in 2023. The project is helping Jamaica improve teaching methods, upgrade secondary school facilities—including the construction of a new school to accommodate 2,400 students from underserved communities—and enhance education management information systems for better decision-making.

In Guyana, the World Bank supports access to quality secondary education and enhances youth and vocational training to meet labor market needs.

With the Bank’s support, Guyana now has three new secondary schools equipped with state-of-the-art technology. The recently completed Good Hope and Westminster Secondary Schools have added 1,800 new student spaces, ensuring better access to quality education.

Conclusion

Caribbean countries can make significant strides in improving the quality of education, ensuring Caribbean children have the future they deserve – one filled with opportunities and bright prospects.

FAQs

Q: What is the current state of education in the Caribbean?
A: The current state of education in the Caribbean is characterized by low pass rates, particularly in Mathematics, and a lack of globally comparable data.

Q: What are the root causes of the educational challenges in the Caribbean?
A: The root causes of the educational challenges in the Caribbean include a lack of foundational learning, inequality in access to quality education, and a lack of alignment with the global agenda for transforming education.

Q: What needs to be done to address the educational challenges in the Caribbean?
A: To address the educational challenges in the Caribbean, governments and regional entities need to prioritize education, implement reforms to improve access, enhance teaching quality, and upgrade school infrastructure.