Education in St Vincent and The Grenadines

Joined Commonwealth: 1979

Population: 109,000 (2009)

GDP p.c. growth: 3.8% p.a. 1990-2009

Net primary enrolment: 98.3% (2009)

Net secondary enrolment: 90.3% (2007)

Public spending on education was 6.6% of GDP in 2009. There are 11 years of compulsory education starting at age five. Net enrolment ratios are 98.3% for primary (2009) and 90.3% for secondary (2007) with a primary female-male ratio of 0.93:1 and secondary female-male ratio of 1.04:1 (2009). The pupil-teacher ratio for primary is 17:1 and for secondary 13:1 (2009). The school year starts in September.

Tertiary education is provided at the regional University of the West Indies, which has campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Caribbean Examinations Council, established in 1972 by an agreement among 15 English-speaking Commonwealth Caribbean countries and territories, provides examinations and certification at secondary and post-secondary levels. The Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examination is for students at the end of the secondary education cycle; the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations for post-secondary students entering the world of work and for those candidates who wish to continue their further education at the tertiary level.

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