MoE’s Region 4 has most certified teachers

ROSE HALL, St James — The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (MoE) has commended one of its seven educational regions across Jamaica — Region 4 — for leading the way in the number of qualified teachers and certified places of learning for children at the start of their learning journey. Region 4 has also been lauded for performing above the national average in Primary Exit Profile (PEP), Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) examinations even though many schools in the area were devastated by Hurricane Melissa last October. “This region already has a very strong foundation.

It includes three tertiary institutions and one recently closed, earmarked for repurposing by HEART/NSTA Trust. Your region has achieved the highest teacher certification rate among the regions and has the highest number of registered and certified early childhood institutions nationally. Our responsibility is to convert that capacity into consistently excellent learning experiences for every child,” state minister in the ministry Rhoda Moy Crawford told the Region 4 Principals’ Leadership Conference and Appreciation Luncheon 2026 at Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James last Thursday.

During the event, parliamentary secretary in the ministry Senator Marlon Morgan described the region’s performance in PEP, CSEC and CAPE as a testament to profound courage and hard work despite the challenges brought on by the Category 5 storm. At the primary level, Region 4 met the 70 per cent PEP target in three of four areas — Language Arts, 71.6 per cent; Literacy, 77.9 per cent; Numeracy, 74.5 per cent and Mathematics at 68.4 per cent, missing the target by only 1.6 percentage points. At the secondary level, the overall CSEC pass rate increased significantly from 72.1 per cent in 2005 to 79.1 per cent in 2026, with improvements across several subject areas, including the arts.

Among the schools mentioned for their outstanding performance was Grange Hill High School in Westmoreland where the mathematics pass rate moved from zero per cent in 2005 to 71 per cent in 2026. At Maud McLeod High School in Westmoreland, it rose from zero per cent two years ago to 35 per cent last year and now to 43 per cent this year. As for Mount Alvernia High School in St James, mathematics increased by 16 per cent to 84 per cent this year…