TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands – The British Virgin Islands has emerged as the highest-performing education system among eight participating Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) member states after Grade 2 students ranked first in both Reading and Mathematics in the 2026 OECS PEARL Regional Assessment.
Preliminary findings from the 2026 OECS Programme for Educational Advancement and Relevant Learning (PEARL) regional assessment showed that students from all public primary schools and five private primary schools achieved the highest overall performance in both the OECS Early Reading Assessment (OERA) and the OECS Early Mathematics Assessment (OEMA).
More than 7,400 Grade 2 students from eight OECS member states participated in this year’s assessment cycle.
The territory recorded an overall Reading score of 86 per cent, exceeding the OECS average of 73 per cent by 13 percentage points.
Students also posted the highest scores in all three reading genres.
In Mathematics, the Virgin Islands also placed first with an overall score of 70 per cent, outperforming the OECS average of 65 per cent.
Students achieved the region’s highest scores in Geometrical Thinking and Operations with Numbers, while tying with Saint Lucia for the highest score in Measurement.
Chief Education Officer Orlandette Crabbe credited the results to the combined efforts of educators across the territory.
“These results are a reflection of the unwavering commitment and professionalism of the many individuals who work tirelessly each day on behalf of our students,” Crabbe stated.
She also praised education officers, principals, instructional coaches, specialists and teachers for strengthening teaching and learning across the territory, adding that their work reflected “their collective belief that every child in the Virgin Islands can learn, excel, and succeed.”
