As anyone who has ever struggled in school can attest, an excellent teacher can make all the difference in a student’s learning outcomes. The story is no different in the Eastern Caribbean (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), where teacher ability is at the heart of both serious problems and potential solutions.
Evidence shows dramatic learning deficits in the region: Nearly three in four students fail the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), with the pass rate in some countries below 12%. Similarly, nearly one in 10 students in some countries end up repeating grades.
Many factors are at play here, including economic and social inequalities. However, one key issue is a lack of quality initial teacher training. It is estimated that 70% of preschool teachers in the region have not received any training (in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, only 18% of primary school teachers have received training).