Interactive Statistical
Digest
Foreword
The publication of this 2023-2024 Interactive Digital Digest represents another major stride in the region's efforts to provide timely and accurate data to guide decision-making and research, and to monitor the sector itself. The transition to this new platform provides opportunities which were not previously available. Importantly, there is now a single point of data entry from the individual territories, which significantly reduces the probability of entry errors. This is a significant improvement from the older system, which used multiple points of data entry. In addition, the migration to this platform allows the end user to interrogate the data based on his/her specific area(s) of focus.
This Interactive platform is further enhanced by Artificial Intelligence. Now, users can research larger data volumes across different themes and can therefore obtain a more holistic perspective in a shorter period of time. The platform features various built-in forms for analytics. These are designed to help the user quickly understand the data and trends presented in tabular form. The user experience is further enhanced by various visualisation options, which are easily exportable for custom reports.
Before the publication of this Interactive Digest, OECS Education Statisticians benefited from training with the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) through a bilateral Implementing Partnership Agreement. This collaborative effort provided technical assistance to OECS Education Statisticians to enhance their national and, by extension, regional reporting capacities. Some of the areas reviewed include the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED 2011). The ISCED review allowed participants to update the structure of their respective education systems. Hence, the Education Statisticians were able to share their respective contexts in a more timely manner with UIS. Another area of focus for this collaborative effort was the EMIS Laser mapping. This report provided a synopsis of the datasets captured and the corresponding timelines for data collection across member countries. Training was also conducted on best practices in reporting and data presentation.
Our recent experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic, storms and other external events have heightened our appreciation of the need for real-time and accurate data for decision-making. Consequently, as a region, we have sought to redouble our efforts to design, develop and deploy a regional Education Management Information System (EMIS) that serves the individual needs of Member States while providing a basis for regional benchmarking and decision-making. The OECS Regional EMIS Task Force is a critical body tasked with guiding this work, mandated by the Council of Ministers of Education. Through this forum, our statisticians also provide meaningful contributions to the advancement of this initiative.
I am pleased to share this publication with our policy-makers, development partners and colleagues within the Member State Ministries of Education. We express our gratitude to our various partners, such as UNICEF and the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for their dedicated support. Their efforts have been instrumental in helping us reach yet another milestone. Thank you again to all those who have assisted and continue to support an evidence-based approach in education.
Mrs Sisera Simon, BSc, MEd, PMP
Head, Human and Social Division
Introduction
About the Statistical Digest
The OECS Education Statistical Digest (OESD) is an annual publication that addresses the increasing demand for dependable and current data to support data-driven decision-making and oversight of interventions in Member States' national education systems.
The OESD is a regional integration success that contributes to the harmonisation of monitoring and evaluation processes and agreement on key indicators for measuring the progress of the education sector in the OECS. This annual publication ensures that Member States maintain adherence to international standards for education data and statistics.
The first section of the Digest provides important background information on the general structure of education systems in the OECS region, as well as a table that maps the SDG4 indicators to the OESS indicators. The following chapters reveal the number of institutions, information on leaders and teachers, data on student enrolment, the internal efficiency of the systems, system outputs — specifically examination results — and available information on education financing in the sub-region. Historical data is also presented to show changes over time.
A combination of the OECS Education Sector Strategy (OESS), the CARICOM Human Resource Development Strategy 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4 provide the framework for the collected and analysed data. Development Partners, Policy-makers, Education Officers, School Leaders, Researchers and Teachers all rely on the ESD for relevant insights on the development trajectory for education in the OECS.
Member States
Education Levels Covered
- Early Childhood (Daycare & Preschool)
- Primary Education
- Secondary Education
- Technical & Vocational (TVET)
- Post-Secondary & Tertiary
- Special Education
What's Inside the Digest
The Digest is structured into six chapters, each focusing on a critical dimension of the education system across the OECS region.
Educational Institutions
Comprehensive inventory of all educational institutions across OECS member states, including daycare centres, preschools, primary and secondary schools, TVET institutions, and post-secondary facilities.
Leaders & Teachers
Data on teaching staff qualifications, academic credentials, leadership positions, age distribution, and years of service across the education system.
Student Enrollment
Detailed enrollment statistics broken down by education level, age group, gender, and school type across all OECS countries.
Internal Efficiency
Key efficiency metrics including repeater rates, dropout statistics, class sizes, and student-teacher ratios that measure how effectively resources are being used.
Systems Output & Performance
Examination performance data from CSEC, CAPE, and CCSLC assessments, tracking student achievement across subjects and countries.
Financial Data
Education expenditure analysis including national budget allocations, GDP investment percentages, and spending breakdowns by education level.
More Than a Static Publication
This interactive platform goes beyond traditional reports with powerful tools for exploration, analysis, and data-driven decision making.
How Data is Collected
Collection
Country statisticians enter education data through secure, role-based data entry forms.
Validation
Data undergoes validation checks to ensure consistency and accuracy across all fields.
Analysis
AI-powered and manual analysis generates insights, comparisons, and trend identification.
Publication
Reports are reviewed, approved, and published for public access on the platform.