CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) says it has successfully concluded the pilot phase of its Early Reading Assessment (OERA) and Early Mathematics Assessment (OEMA), marking a significant milestone towards implementing standardized Grade 2 assessments in reading and mathematics across OECS member states.
This initiative, conducted under the Global Partnership for Education (GPE)-funded OECS Programme for Educational Advancement and Relevant Learning (PEARL), aims to measure essential literacy and numeracy skills, providing crucial data to refine curricula and address learning gaps across the region.
The OECS Commission says that in October, assessors used digital tools, including tablets, to record students’ oral reading and collect data seamlessly in eight OECS member states: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts-Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
This innovative approach not only streamlined data collection but also laid the foundation for improving early-grade learning outcomes, the Commission said. It added that the assessments align with the Digital OECS Harmonized Primary Curriculum (D-OHPC), reflecting the subregion’s commitment to enhancing education quality.
It said that this initiative underscores the OECS’s focus on improving early literacy and numeracy outcomes. by identifying and addressing learning gaps during critical early learning stages
“Collaboration with local education experts will ensure the pilot results refine assessment tools and inform curriculum strategies for consistent improvement across member states. With the pilot data under review, the OECS will work closely with Ministries of Education, teachers, and curriculum experts to enhance the assessments and align them with international benchmarks.”
The OECS Commission said that the final assessments, scheduled for May 2025, will enable the OECS to monitor and report student proficiency in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 4.1.1.a, which targets minimum literacy and numeracy standards for students in Grades 2 or 3.
“This pilot will help us understand not only the efficacy of the assessment with regards to internal consistency and validity but will also help us respond to country-specific issues and concerns. This will enable a more nuanced approach to regional assessment, in line with the concept of a truly harmonized curriculum,” said Royston Emmanuel, Senior Technical Specialist, Education at the OECS Commission.
The OECS PEARL is a four-year program that seeks to advance progress towards the OECS Education Sector Strategy (OESS) goals through increased access and improved student learning in basic education.
The GPE funds it. With its vision of “a quality education for every child,” the GPE will help optimize education systems so that all children can learn, including those marginalized by poverty, ethnicity, disability, and displacement. The partnership puts gender equality at the heart of its work and operations.
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