OECS completes pilot phase of Early Reading and Mathematics Assessments

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) 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.

A release from the OECS Secretariat states that 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.

From October 10–18, 2024, assessors used digital tools, including tablets, to record students’ oral reading and collect data seamlessly in eight OECS Member States: Anguilla; Antigua & Barbuda; the British Virgin Islands; Dominica; Grenada; St. Kitts & Nevis; and St. Vincent & the Grenadines. This innovative approach not only streamlined data collection, but also laid the foundation for improving early-grade learning outcomes.

The assessments align with the Digital OECS Harmonized Primary Curriculum (D-OHPC), reflecting the OECS’s commitment to enhancing education quality. By identifying and addressing learning gaps during critical early learning stages, this initiative underscores the OECS’s focus on improving early literacy and numeracy outcomes.

The release also points out that 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 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 at Grade 2 or 3.

Senior Technical Specialist, Education at the OECS Commission, Royston Emmanuel said, “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”.