The Virgin Islands has emerged as the highest-performing education system among eight participating Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Member States, with Grade 2 students ranking first in Reading and Mathematics.
According to the Government Information Service (GIS), the preliminary results of the 2026 OECS Programme for Educational Advancement and Relevant Learning (PEARL) Regional Assessment included students from all public primary schools and five private primary schools in the Territory.
More than 7,400 students from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the Virgin Islands participated.
GIS reported that the Virgin Islands achieved an overall Reading score of 86 per cent, 13 percentage points above the OECS average of 73 per cent.
Students led all three reading categories, scoring 88 per cent in Visual Text, 89 per cent in Fiction and 67 per cent in Non-Fiction. Although Non-Fiction was the most challenging category regionally, the Territory finished 11 percentage points above the OECS average.
The Virgin Islands also ranked first in Mathematics with an overall score of 70 per cent, compared with the regional average of 65 per cent.
Students recorded the region’s highest scores in Geometrical Thinking at 86 per cent and Operations with Numbers at 80 per cent. The Territory tied with Saint Lucia for first place in Measurement with 78 per cent and recorded 71 per cent in Number Sense and 60 per cent in Data Handling and Probability.
Patterns and Relationships was identified as an area requiring further improvement. The Territory scored 55 per cent, compared with the OECS average of 52 per cent.
GIS also disclosed that 97 per cent of Virgin Islands students achieved minimum proficiency in Reading, compared with the regional average of 78 per cent. In Mathematics, 95 per cent reached minimum proficiency, against the OECS average of 86 per cent.
The annual OECS Early Reading Assessment and OECS Early Mathematics Assessment measure foundational literacy and numeracy skills among Grade 2 students. The findings are used to improve teaching, guide curriculum development and support evidence-based decisions.
Chief Education Officer Mrs Orlandette Crabbe described the results as a proud milestone and credited education officers, principals, instructional coaches, specialists and teachers.
“These results are a reflection of the unwavering commitment and professionalism of the many individuals who work tirelessly each day on behalf of our students,” Mrs Crabbe said.
She said their leadership, creativity and daily investment had helped to build strong foundations and demonstrated their belief that every child in the Virgin Islands can learn, excel and succeed.
Mrs Crabbe also commended Examinations Officer Ms Tyrah Hodge and her team for coordinating the Territory’s participation. She said administering the regional assessment required careful planning, quality assurance and extensive collaboration with schools and regional partners.
According to GIS, the findings will guide future efforts to strengthen students’ understanding of Patterns and Relationships in Mathematics and their comprehension of Non-Fiction texts.
The results support the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports’ goal of providing every student with a world-class education and its 2026 theme, “Full STEAM Ahead: Future-Focused, Student-Led.”
According to the Government Information Service (GIS), the preliminary results of the 2026 OECS Programme for Educational Advancement and Relevant Learning (PEARL) Regional Assessment included students from all public primary schools and five private primary schools in the Territory.
More than 7,400 students from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the Virgin Islands participated.
GIS reported that the Virgin Islands achieved an overall Reading score of 86 per cent, 13 percentage points above the OECS average of 73 per cent.
Students led all three reading categories, scoring 88 per cent in Visual Text, 89 per cent in Fiction and 67 per cent in Non-Fiction. Although Non-Fiction was the most challenging category regionally, the Territory finished 11 percentage points above the OECS average.
The Virgin Islands also ranked first in Mathematics with an overall score of 70 per cent, compared with the regional average of 65 per cent.
Students recorded the region’s highest scores in Geometrical Thinking at 86 per cent and Operations with Numbers at 80 per cent. The Territory tied with Saint Lucia for first place in Measurement with 78 per cent and recorded 71 per cent in Number Sense and 60 per cent in Data Handling and Probability.
Patterns and Relationships was identified as an area requiring further improvement. The Territory scored 55 per cent, compared with the OECS average of 52 per cent.
GIS also disclosed that 97 per cent of Virgin Islands students achieved minimum proficiency in Reading, compared with the regional average of 78 per cent. In Mathematics, 95 per cent reached minimum proficiency, against the OECS average of 86 per cent.
The annual OECS Early Reading Assessment and OECS Early Mathematics Assessment measure foundational literacy and numeracy skills among Grade 2 students. The findings are used to improve teaching, guide curriculum development and support evidence-based decisions.
Chief Education Officer Mrs Orlandette Crabbe described the results as a proud milestone and credited education officers, principals, instructional coaches, specialists and teachers.
“These results are a reflection of the unwavering commitment and professionalism of the many individuals who work tirelessly each day on behalf of our students,” Mrs Crabbe said.
She said their leadership, creativity and daily investment had helped to build strong foundations and demonstrated their belief that every child in the Virgin Islands can learn, excel and succeed.
Mrs Crabbe also commended Examinations Officer Ms Tyrah Hodge and her team for coordinating the Territory’s participation. She said administering the regional assessment required careful planning, quality assurance and extensive collaboration with schools and regional partners.
According to GIS, the findings will guide future efforts to strengthen students’ understanding of Patterns and Relationships in Mathematics and their comprehension of Non-Fiction texts.
The results support the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports’ goal of providing every student with a world-class education and its 2026 theme, “Full STEAM Ahead: Future-Focused, Student-Led.”
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