Ministry of Education considering plan to help boys boost academic performance
The Ministry of Education is considering the introduction of a gender-targeted literacy and student engagement programme as part of a broader strategy to address learning gaps and improve academic performance among students, particularly boys.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Senator Laverne King, outlined the proposed initiatives while speaking in the House of Assembly on Thursday, July 2, 2026, as she addressed this year’s Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA) results and the ministry’s plans to strengthen the education system. King said the ministry has been reviewing the performance of students and is developing targeted interventions to address areas of weakness.
“To correct existing weak areas and assist the 11.53 of students who differed this year, the Ministry of Education is considering the following plan: gender targeted literacy and engagement programme implementing a localized boys education initiative focusing on male- centric literacy resources and interactive learning styles to lift male median performance closer to their female peers”, she stated.
She explained that the initiative forms part of a wider effort to ensure that students receive the support needed to improve literacy outcomes while creating learning environments that better respond to the needs of both boys and girls. The minister also announced plans to strengthen foundational numeracy, noting that the ministry intends to build on students’ performance in mathematics, while reducing the number of low-performing students. “The ministry will introduce a primary math-enhancement programme focusing heavily on conceptual problem solving rather than memorization.”
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