Private exam enrolment climbs as 2026 season approaches

Growing numbers of people are turning to private examination entries in English and Mathematics, a trend education officials said reflects shifting patterns of independent learning and private tuition as the 2026 season approaches. 

The Ministry of Education on Thursday reported final arrangements are now being completed ahead of next month’s start, noting a significant uptick in the number of private candidates registering for core subjects.

While a comprehensive tally of all students is still underway, the deputy chief education officer Stephen Scott, reported that the Mathematics examination has climbed sharply with 608 private candidates, an increase of 157 students over 2025. A similar pattern is evident for English A, the grammar and language subject, which has seen 324 registrations thus far, compared to the 211 who sat the exam last year.

Scott noted that these figures are dynamic and likely to evolve. Because the registration process relies on individual submissions rather than a centralised, pre-emptive database, he acknowledged it is difficult to account for every potential candidate, particularly those who may have missed last week’s deadline.

“I don’t know if I can answer all of them because we wouldn’t know how many persons have missed,” the deputy chief explained, noting that the department relies on direct communication from candidates who have initiated, but not yet completed, the registration process.

The 2025 examinations saw a total islandwide participation of 3 541 candidates for Mathematics and 3 819 for English A, combining both school-based and private entries.

Scott confirmed that all logistical systems are in place, and preparations for the 2026 season have entered the final stages.

“Yes, the systems are ready,” Scott assured. “We are putting things in place for those exams… all systems are go for the examinations.”

This year’s examination cycle, encompassing both the ordinary-level Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the advanced-level Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) assessments, is set to begin on April 13 with language oral exams.